Visitation Guidelines

WVU Medicine – Princeton Community Hospital welcomes visitors. Family and close friends can play an important part in the recovery and healing process of patients, by providing a touch of home, encouragement, and support. Please let us know your preferences regarding visitors.

In the general patient units and ICU/CCU, two visitors at a time are allowed from 7 am – 9 pm. One overnight visitor is allowed. (In semi-private rooms the visitor of the opposite sex is not allowed to stay in the room with the patient overnight).

Women’s Center visiting hours are from 8 am – 8 pm, with quite time (no visitors) from 2 pm – 4 pm each day. Three visitors are allowed at a time. One overnight visitor is allowed. When the mother is in active labor, other visitors may be allowed to wait in the North Lobby adjacent to the Women’s Center. Visitors may come in one hour after delivery with the mother’s consent.

Patient visits may be restricted for various reasons, which may include:

• Patient choice
• During times when procedures or assessments are being done.
• During private talks between healthcare providers and the patient, if the patient does not want visitors to be present.
• When emergency procedures are being done on the patient or nearby patient.
• When a visitor’s behavior is disruptive or presents a risk to patients or hospital staff.
• When privacy is needed for the other patient in a shared room.
• When there is a court order limiting contact with the patient.

WVU Medicine has a strong commitment to providing a safe, healing, inclusive environment at all our locations. WVU Medicine has zero tolerance for the use of threatening or aggressive behavior, abusive language, and threats of physical harm or violence. Words or actions that are disrespectful, racist, discriminatory, hostile, or harassing will not be tolerated.

To maintain a therapeutic environment in the healthcare facility, patients and visitors are expected to refrain from behaviors that are disruptive or pose a threat to the rights or safety of other patients, visitors, staff, or faculty. We pledge to treat patients with respect, honesty, dignity, and compassion. We expect patients and visitors to behave in the same manner. We do not allow behavior by any patient or visitor that mistreats or discriminates against our staff, providers, other patients, or other visitors. This includes in-person encounters, messages in MyWVUChart, emails or letters, phone calls, or any other setting.

Examples of behaviors that will not be tolerated include, but are not limited to:

• Racism – such as, offensive or bigoted comments about someone’s race or ethnicity, or sarcastic insults about a person based on their background.
• Discrimination – such as, judging, singling out, or treating someone unfairly based on their race, ethnicity, national origin or skin color; sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression; age; disability; religion; immigration status; genetic information; veteran or active military status; or any other legally protected status.
• Verbal abuse – such as, harassing, name calling, yelling, cursing, belittling, or ranting.
• Emotional abuse – such as, bullying, stalking, or any acts or words that make our staff or faculty feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
• Sexual abuse – such as, unwanted touching or use of sexual or vulgar words, gestures, or other actions.
• Threats – such as, any words or actions meant to threaten or intimidate others.
• Physical abuse – such as, any violent actions or physical abuse such as throwing things, blocking, hitting, kicking, or spitting.
• Disrupting another patient’s care or experience

Individuals who we believe violate the Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct will be given the opportunity to explain their point of view except in severe circumstances requiring immediate action. A facility representative will carefully consider the response before making any decisions about future non-emergent care at that facility.

Actions that may be taken subsequent to Code of Conduct violations include, but are not limited to:

• Discussion of Patient’s Rights and Responsibilities
• Belongings and room search
• Documentation of behavior in medical record
• Visitation restriction
• Revocation of MyWVUChart privileges
• Premises restriction
• Dismissal from non-emergent care
• Notify law enforcement or other legal action

If these behaviors are witnessed, they should be immediately reported to the care team and, as applicable, Security.

WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate against, exclude, or treat differently any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, or any other legally protected characteristic. Princeton Community Hospital:

• Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as:
  Qualified sign language interpreters
  Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)
• Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as:
  Qualified interpreters
  Information written in other languages

If it is believed that WVU Medicine has discriminated against a patient based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or ability to pay, they may file a grievance with the Patient Advocate. They can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.

WVU Medicine is focused on providing you with high quality patient care and excellent customer service. As a patient, you have the right to have your cultural, psychosocial, spiritual, and personal values, beliefs, and preferences respected. We know that to consistently meet your needs and expectations, we must listen attentively, keep you informed of your progress and the plan of care, respond with care and compassion, and take appropriate clinical actions to assist you toward discharge.

We ask that at any time we do not meet your expectations that you give us the opportunity to immediately address your concerns. Each member of our healthcare team is eager and prepared to address and try to resolve your issues. To address your concerns, ask to speak with the charge nurse of the nursing unit you are on. In the absence of the charge nurse, ask to speak with the leadership of the nursing unit. If you do not feel that your concern has been adequately addressed, you have the right to file a grievance and contact the Patient Advocate.
Patient Advocates can be reached by calling (304) 487-7261 Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm, or emailing [email protected]. Patient Advocates will investigate and respond to any concerns of dissatisfaction, any complaints or grievances about patient care by patients, their families, and/or their visitors in a timely manner. During off hours or weekends, you may ask to speak with the House Supervisor.

You have the right to contact the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification at 304-558-0050 and/or DNV at 1-866-496-9647 concerning safety and quality of care concerns if we do not effectively address your concerns to your desired resolution.

For complaints regarding quality of care, coverage decisions, or appealing a discharge decision, the patient and/or representative may contact the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO).
Livanta, LLC
BFCC QIO
10820 Guilford Road, Suite 202
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701-1262
1-888-396-4646

For complaints regarding provisions under section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, you may contact the Patient Advocate.

Privacy and security complaints and violations are not handled by Patient Advocates. Rather, privacy and security complaints are handled by the hospital Privacy Officer.

If the hospital does not respond to your complaint to your satisfaction or if you have other concerns, you may contact additional state agencies. Scan the QR Code for more information on West Virginia Agencies.