Some hospitals are allowing family and friends of intensive-care patients to visit whenever they want, according to an article on The Wall Street Journal website.
ICU nurses at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, N.J., were initially concerned about the new open-visitation policy, which was introduced in March 2015.
The hospital installed “panic buttons” in the ICU nursing stations to summon security staff in case visitors became unruly at night, but they haven’t been needed so far. More hand-sanitizer dispensers also were put in for visitors to use.
Valley wanted to make sure families and friends of patients were comfortable. The hospital purchased special sleeper chairs for anyone who wants to spend the night in the ICU.
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