Liberal Visitation Practices Decrease Patient Anxiety

A new study claims that removing restrictions on hospital visiting hours not only allows patients to spend more time with family and friends, it can enhance outcomes by lowering patient anxiety levels and feelings of social isolation.

Researchers at Morristown Medical Center (NJ, USA), a 690-bed tertiary acute care facility and a 78-bed rehabilitation hospital, initiated a 24-hour visitation policy in March 2013, comparing patient satisfaction scores before and after the policy was implemented. During first eight months of the new policy, the medical center had 14,444 visitors after hours (between 8:00 pm and 5:00 am), who were greeted at a reception desk by a security officer. Every patient had the right to determine who may or may not visit, and two visitors were allowed per room.

The results showed that during this period, there was no increase in the number of complaints from patients or visitors. Incidence of security events did not change, despite the higher number of visitors. Patient satisfaction scores rose on both a commercial satisfaction survey and on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. Unit staff received fewer phone calls for patient updates and acknowledged that the experience had been positive. The study was on December 18, 2013, in the Journal of Healthcare Quality.

“Our experience suggests that open visitation at both acute care and post-acute care hospitals can be accomplished with little disruption and improve the patient and family experience,” said David Shulkin, MD. “Supporting patients in a way that allows them to be with family and loved ones can be an important component of the healing experience and may reduce the anxiety and social isolation associated with illness.”

In the United States, there is increasing support for eliminating visiting restrictions, which has traditionally been common practice in European hospitals. Family and friends are viewed as patient advocates, and many hospitals actively encourage more active patient and family involvement in clinical decision-making.

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Morristown Medical Center