Hospital policies that restrict visitors, especially in the era following the COVID-19 pandemic, can cause frustration and stress among family members. By extension, this means additional difficulties for hospital staff dealing with disgruntled patients or caregivers. As such, hospitals should take a closer look at these policies and determine whether heavy-handed enforcement without exception, especially as in the case of families of young children, will improve patient care or lower trust between patients, families and healthcare providers.
Due to record numbers of hospitalizations due to influenza and other respiratory illnesses this season, it is understandable many hospitals in the Indianapolis area have continued to impose restrictions on visitations. For most, this means there are restrictions on visitors under the age of 18 in order to reduce the risk of transmitting the flu or other viruses to vulnerable populations.
Many parents of children in the hospital are more than willing to support attempts by hospital staff to implement policies that keep patients safe by reducing unnecessary exposure to contagious illnesses. With some exceptions, hospitals are within their rights to limit visitors for clinical purposes. . However, strict enforcement may be a bit too black-and-white of an approach to delivering healthcare, especially so when it comes to pediatric inpatient care.
When our first child was in the NICU, the nursing staff emphasized the importance of visitors on our baby’s health and recovery. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports this view that parental support during hospital stays may decrease length of stay and improve patient outcomes (AAP).
[RELATED: Hunley aims to protect Hoosier genetic data]
However, siblings are often not allowed to visit patients in the hospital, which can present challenges for families with multiple young children, especially as our state faces a childcare affordability crisis.
Some other potential support options hospitals may consider to address these situations include a text-message system providing regular updates on the hospitalized child when the parent cannot be there, or opening-up on-site staff childcare options temporarily to young siblings of patients. There are countless ways hospitals may be able to offer support to parents navigating these challenges during a child’s illness.
While there may be legitimate reasons for hospital visitation policies to exclude family members other than caretakers, these policies should be compassionately reconsidered on a case-by-case basis to remove barriers to healthcare for families of young children.
Melanie Barrozo is a 28-year-old wife and mother to two amazing kids. She was inspired by a Creative Writing professor at IU Southeast to continue to pursue writing despite other career interests. She is currently a behavioral technician for children diagnosed with autism and feels passionate about serving families and sharing experiences that can help others reach their highest potential.