Hospital Visitors Require Special Authorization After 9 pm

After 9 pm beginning September 1st, visitors to the Miramichi Regional Hospital will require special authorization from the respective nursing unit to enter or remain within the hospital.

“We want to ensure the safest and most comfortable environment possible for our patients and staff,” says Jean-Guy Richard, Vice President Administration and Chief Financial Officer.

He says the building will be locked down at 9 pm and opened again at 6 am with the exception of the Emergency Department, which remains open 24 hours.

Visitors requiring entrance to the hospital during these hours will be required to use the video entry system located outside the main entrance to the hospital (next to the revolving doors).

“Scheduled and unscheduled visitors will communicate with our security department to receive the appropriate authorization,” says Richard.

Visitors already within the hospital will also require authorization to stay.

“During these hours, all visitors in the building will be issued a visitor identification card.”

He says the hospital’s existing visiting hours will also be enforced during the day.

“Our visiting hours allow for the necessary rest time, nursing care and diagnostic testing required for the patient’s healing process,” says Richard.

Hospital visiting hours will remain the same with the exception of the maternity unit which will change its visiting hours to 7-9 p.m. beginning September 1st.

“The change will allow adequate rest and teaching time for new mothers,” says Marybeth MacArthur, Obstetrics Nurse Manager.

She says that mothers requested the change through patient satisfaction questionnaires.

The public is asked to respect these visitation hours and regulations that include two visitors per patient and children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Visitors will be reminded through the hospital’s intercom system at 8:45 pm that visiting hours will end at 9 pm.

Visiting hours of the Miramichi Regional Hospital include:

Maternity (Obstetrics)- Public/Family: 7-9 p.m.; Father or significant other: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Emergency Department – Immediate Family only with permission from staff

Medical, Surgical, Restorative Care and Rehabilitation Departments – Public/family: 2-9 p.m.

Psychiatry – Weekdays 4-8:30 pm; Weekends/Holidays 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Visitors must report to nurses station prior to visiting.

Pediatrics – Public: 2-4 p.m. and 7-8 p.m.; Parents and guardians: No restrictions; Two visitors at a time in addition to parents and/or guardian.

Palliative Care – Family/friends: No restrictions; Rest Period: 1-4 p.m.

CCU – General Public- Not permitted; Immediate Family- 1 visitor for 10 minutes or as appropriate; Rest Periods- 1-2:30 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m. – no visitors permitted during these times.

Addiction Services – General Public - Not permitted; Immediate family- Weekdays: 7-9 p.m.; Weekends/Holidays- 3-4:30 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.; Visitors are restricted for the first 48 hours following admission.