It is the policy of the University of New Mexico Hospitals to control access to the buildings and grounds to help assure a secure environment for all patients, visitors, staff and physicians of UNM Hospitals.

All visitors and packages are subject to search upon entry into any UNM Hospitals facility based on conditions, circumstances, and individual department practices to provide a secure and safe environment.

• Visitor: Any individual entering UNMH whom is neither a patient nor a member of the staff acting in an official capacity.
• Vendor: A visitor calling upon a patient or staff member for purposes of business.
• Staff: Employees of UNMH, house staff physicians, Faculty of the University of New Mexico (UNM) Medical Center, credentialed members of the medical staff, and other individuals under the supervision of UNMH (e.g. students).

• Patients need the supportive presence of friends and relatives during the course of an illness and concurrent treatment.
• Visitors should not interfere, however, with the delivery of patient care.
• The normal commerce of the UNMH also involves interaction with many visitors of a business nature.
• When such visitors are needed to contribute to UNMH operations, they should be facilitated.
• Such visitors shouldn't be allowed to interfere with the normal course of UNMH operations.

• Daytime Visitors In-Patient: University Hospital
• Patients shall be limited to two visitors at one time.
• The nurse manager/charge nurse may authorize special exceptions if a patient's condition makes it necessary.
• With the application of the following criteria:
• The patient's condition is such that he or she cannot leave the unit to visit with the child.
• The patient is the mother of a child visitor who is breast-feeding.
• Children visiting patients must be members of the patient's immediate family
• Children must be under the supervision of an adult at all times.  UNMH has no facility to monitor children.
• Children visiting UNMH patients are limited to visits of a maximum of 30 minutes at a time.
• Children displaying any evidence of having an infectious illness will be denied visiting privileges.
• Nurse managers should also consider denying requests for exceptions to visiting restrictions during periods when seasonal communicable diseases are common.
• All visitors must check in with the supervisor-on-duty or appropriate place (e.g. nurse's station) at the department or unit being visited.
Visitors may have their privileges curtailed, or if necessary, be required to leave UNMH at any time by nursing supervisors or security personnel.  Visitor disruption of patient care or comfort will not be tolerated at any time.

Patients and patients' families conducting clinic visits or other daytime services are welcome and permitted to conduct such business without receiving a visitor badge.

Commercial vendors or service representatives must check in with the Security Department daily to register and receive a vendor identification badge.

• Pharmaceutical vendors must check in at the Pharmacy Administration office.
• Pharmacy Administration will issue a preauthorized identification badge to vendor.
• Pharmacy Administration is responsible for securing vendor identification badges.
• Security and Pharmacy Departments coordinate and audit identification badges secured at the Pharmacy Department.

Utilization Review/Case Management personnel are required to sign in at Clinical Social Work or Utilization Review and will be required to wear identification badges.

• Contractors performing services through the Facilities Department must check out badges daily at the Facilities Building.
• Facilities Administration will issue a preauthorized identification badge to contractor and staff.
• Facilities Administration is responsible for securing vendor identification badges.
• Security and Facilities Departments coordinate and audit identification badges secured at the Facilities Department.

The Hospital has certain hours reserved for family or friends visiting a patient.  The hours will be enforced so the patient may rest during non-visiting hours.

• Trauma/Surgical Intensive Care, open visiting hours, except during hours listed
• 7 A.M. to 8 A.M. 7 P.M. to 8 P.M.
• Intensive care unit patients may have two (2) visitors at a time only.
• Medical Intensive Care, open during odd hours, except during hours listed
• 7 A.M. to 10 A.M. 7 P.M. to 8 P.M.
• Intensive care unit patients may have two (2) visitors at a time only.
• Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, open except during the hours listed, immediate family only
• 7 A.M. to 10 A.M. 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
• Intensive care unit patients may have two (2) visitors at a time only.
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, open visiting hours except between:
• 7 A.M. to 8 A.M. 9 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. 7 P.M. to 8 P.M.
• Pediatric patients may have parents with them at any time.
• However, only one parent may stay at a bedside overnight.
• Newborn Intensive Care Unit, open visiting hours except between the hours listed:
• 7 A.M. to 8 A.M. 9 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. 7 P.M. to 8 P.M.
• Labor and Delivery, fathers may visit anytime with the consent of the Charge Nurse.  Fathers must wear patient armband.
• Newborn Nursery, no hours will be posted
• All other in-patient units will be limited to the general visiting hours

• If visiting hours have elapsed, the nursing staff should advise visitors that they should return at the next available time for visiting.
• The Nurse Manager/ Charge Nurse can make exceptions to the above visiting hours on a case-by-case basis in the case of seriously ill patients near death.
• The Nurse Manager/Charge Nurse must notify the Security Department when such exceptions are made.
• Most visitors are emotionally distressed, so it is important to be helpful and courteous.

• Security Personnel will control visitor access into the treatment area of the Emergency Department 24 hours a day
• Emergency Department Staff will not allow visitors into the treatment area without notifying security personnel stationed in the ER
• Patients' within the treatment area are only allowed one visitor to be present
• Emergency department staff will call security personnel to the triage area when a patient with a visitor is admitted to the treatment area
• Security Personnel will identify the visitor and issue the person a visitor ID Badge.
• Security will maintain the visitors' license or other form of ID in the visitor logbook.
• If a patient is to have more than one visitor, the charge nurse must approve and document the facts in the visitor logbook.
• Visitors will be informed that they must return the visitor badge upon leaving the emergency department

• University Hospital will limit access to the building and property between the hours of 10 P.M. and 6 A.M. daily.
• The hospital will designate one entrance for nighttime entry between 10 PM and 6 AM
• The ACC building is secured from 6 PM through 6 AM
• All other outside entrances will be secured.
• All nighttime traffic will be routed through the main designated entrance.
• Staff members must wear UNMH identification badges at all times.
• ID Badges must conform to UNMH ID Badge Policies.
• Access into the building will be controlled through a system of electronically locked doors.
• Access Card Readers and Access Cards will permit staff into specific areas as defined by their job duties.
• Security personnel will enforce visitor control between the hours of 10 P.M. and 6 A.M. daily.
• Overnight stays in the visitor lounges are prohibited with the exception of the ICU lounges.
• Security personnel will be stationed at designated area to screen individuals requesting access into the hospital after 10 P.M.
• Individuals without Hospital or Health Science Center (Lobo) identification cards must sign in with the security personnel.

• Employees of UNMH and the Health Science Center are required to wear their Identification Badges at all times while on UNMH property.
• After hours, employees will enter through the designated entrance.
• If an employee is not wearing an official identification badge, they will sign in with security.
• In some instances security may contact the employees' department or supervisor to verify employment.

• All visitors will sign in regardless of their destination.
• Sign in information will include the visitor's name, patient's name, and location of patient and time of arrival.
• Charge nurse approval will only be required on those units making visitor exceptions.
• Families of critically ill patients are permitted to visit after hours, provided the charge nurse approves.
• Overnight stays are limited to one member of the immediate family and will be contingent upon the following:
• Status of immediate needs of the patient
• Status of other patients
• Environmental conditions of the nursing unit
• Collaboration with the medical staff
• The individual department should provide a translator if needed.
• If a person is a questionable visitor
• Security should ask the individual for the name of the patient, the location and the room number.
• Check the information through admitting or the department.
• Explain why we need to check the information.
• If the individual is not visiting a patient, or a patient, he/she is to be escorted out of the building.
• If the individual is non-compliant or appears to be intoxicated, notify UNMPD.

• The waiting areas during the evening and night shift need to be checked periodically.
• The Operating Room/Recovery Room waiting area will be locked at 9 P.M. and unlocked at 6 A.M. daily.
• The Burn Unit waiting area will be locked at 8 P.M. and unlocked at 6 A.M. daily.
• The Pediatric waiting room will be left unlocked for use by PICU parents.
• After 10 PM a visitor badge is required for the pediatric waiting room.
• The ICU's waiting area will be monitored regularly.

• No restrictions to building access, unless posted at access point.
• Staff members must wear identification badges at all times, with Photo displayed.
• Vendors must wear identification badges issued by the Security Department or Pharmacy as appropriate.
• Construction personnel must wear identification badges issued by the Security Department at all times when present within the hospital.
• The outside third floor entrance to the Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) will be open from 6 A.M. and closed at 10 P.M., Monday through Saturday.

• The Hospital main entrance will be open from 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. and daytime weekday procedures will apply.
• The outside third floor entrance to the ACC will be open from 10:30 A.M. to 6 P.M.
• After 10 P.M. the same procedures will be followed as nighttime weekday hours.