title: The impact of opening visitation access on patient and family experience.
abstract: Restrictive visiting hours have been an obstacle to family participation in care. To support increased and consistent access to patients, Baylor Health Care System implemented a system-wide approach to open access for visitation across all facilities. Nursing and medical leadership led the communication efforts, and shared nursing governance guided revisions to existing policies. Data collected from 13 hospitals demonstrated that patients and families felt more informed; that the nursing staff were more courteous and respectful and explained things in a way that could be understood; that the staff attitude toward visitors was markedly improved; and that comfort and accommodations for guests were extended and improved. The resources needed to deploy these changes are outlined as well as the iterative process needed to create a positive impact on the family partnership in care.
authors: Author Affiliations: Vice President, Patient Centeredness (Ms Nuss); Director, Maternal Newborn NICU Services (Ms Kelly); Training Manager, Office of Patient Centeredness (Ms Pierce); Quality Process Improvement Consultant (Ms Entzminger); Quality Improvement Coach (Ms Blair); Director of the Office of Patient Centeredness and Patient Centered Informatics (Ms Wissinger); Quality Improvement Consultant (Ms Bryant); Office of Patient Centeredness, Baylor Health Care System, Dallas; Registered Nurse (Ms Campbell), Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, Grapevine; and Chief Nursing Officer (Ms Walker), Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas.
authors: Terri
authors: T
authors: Nuss
authors: Kecia M
authors: KM
authors: Kelly
authors: Karen R
authors: KR
authors: Campbell
authors: Cathy
authors: C
authors: Pierce
authors: Janna K
authors: JK
authors: Entzminger
authors: Brenda K
authors: BK
authors: Blair
authors: Laurie
authors: L
authors: Wissinger
authors: Lona
authors: L
authors: Bryant
authors: Janice L
authors: JL
authors: Walker
mesh_terms: D005190:Family; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000523:psychology