Visit someone staying at Brookhaven Hospital

Best first step: Check in with Brookhaven Reception before going to any patient area. Reception or unit staff can confirm whether the patient may receive visitors, where you should wait, and what items are allowed.

• Check in at Brookhaven Reception before entering any patient area.
• Bring photo ID and follow visitor badge instructions.
• The patient usually needs to agree to the visit unless a legal process or care situation says otherwise.
• Visitor access may change because of observation level, safety review, patient preference, unit activity, or privacy needs.
• Do not bring personal items, food, medication, bags, chargers, or gifts without staff approval.
• Ask staff where to wait if a unit, room, hallway, or Day Room is restricted.

• Confirm the patient is currently able to receive visitors.
• Confirm visiting hours for the current unit.
• Ask whether the patient has approved you as a visitor.
• Ask whether the visit should happen in a patient room, visitor area, family meeting room, or another approved space.
• Ask whether any items you plan to bring need approval.
• Ask whether the patient’s observation level affects visitor access.
• Plan to arrive early enough for ID check, visitor badge, belongings review, and unit directions.

1. Go to Brookhaven Reception or the check-in area named in the visit instructions.
2. Give the patient’s name and your relationship to the patient.
3. Show photo ID if requested.
4. Follow visitor badge, belongings, and waiting-area instructions.
5. Ask before entering any patient unit, hallway, Day Room, or shared space.
6. Follow staff instructions if the visit is delayed, moved, shortened, or rescheduled.

Visitor type	What Brookhaven may confirm
Family member or friend	Whether the patient wants the visit and whether the unit can support it at that time.
Support person	Whether the person helps with communication, discharge planning, disability support, or safety planning.
Parent or guardian	Whether identity, relationship, consent, age-related privacy, or guardianship documentation must be reviewed.
Legal representative	Whether documentation is needed and what areas or information can be accessed.
Care conference participant	Whether the person is approved for a scheduled family meeting, care conference, or discharge-planning discussion.

• Wear the visitor badge if one is provided.
• Stay in approved visitor areas unless staff escort you elsewhere.
• Do not enter another patient’s room or private care area.
• Do not bring unapproved items, bags, food, drinks, medication, cords, sharp items, or substances.
• Do not photograph, record, or share information about other patients.
• Follow staff instructions about noise, phone use, physical contact, gifts, and visit length.
• Leave the unit if staff end or pause the visit.

Important: A patient may allow a visit but still choose not to share certain care details. Brookhaven may also limit information because of behavioral health privacy, substance-use treatment privacy, age-related privacy, safety review, or legal status.

• Visits may be shorter or supervised.
• Visitors may be asked to wait outside the unit.
• The visit may move to a family meeting room or other approved area.
• Items may need extra screening.
• Staff may pause the visit for safety checks, medication administration, clinical review, or private care.
• Visitor access may change if the patient’s observation status changes.

• Ask staff where the visit should happen.
• Respect the patient’s preference if they want to end or shorten the visit.
• Keep conversation supportive and avoid pressuring the patient for details.
• Do not discuss other patients or repeat information seen or heard on the unit.
• Tell staff if the patient becomes distressed, physically unwell, confused, agitated, or unsafe.
• Ask staff before giving the patient any item, food, drink, medication, note, phone, charger, or personal object.

Reason	What may happen
Patient distress	Staff may pause the visit, offer support, or ask the visitor to step out.
Observation or safety change	Staff may move the visit, supervise it, delay it, or end it for safety review.
Privacy concern	Staff may limit what is discussed or ask the visitor to leave the area.
Unit activity	Medication pass, group time, meals, admissions, discharges, or care-team review may interrupt visits.
Visitor behavior	Staff may end visits that become disruptive, unsafe, threatening, coercive, or noncompliant with rules.

• Ask whether the patient may receive phone calls.
• Ask whether the patient can call you during approved phone times.
• Ask whether a care conference can happen by phone or video.
• Ask whether letters, cards, or approved items can be dropped off.
• Ask whether the patient has restricted contact preferences.
• Ask whether Brookhaven can confirm anything with you if the patient has not authorized updates.

• Is the patient able to receive visitors today?
• Am I approved to visit?
• Where should I check in?
• What ID or visitor badge is needed?
• Where should I wait?
• Can I bring items, and which items need approval?
• Does the patient’s observation level affect the visit?
• Can the visit happen in the room, or does it need another approved area?
• Can Brookhaven share updates with me?
• Who should I contact if visiting instructions change?

Do not wait for a portal reply if the visit is connected to immediate safety, same-day discharge, a patient who feels unsafe, or a patient who is physically worse.

• If you are at Brookhaven, ask Reception or the nearest staff member for help.
• If the patient is on the unit and feels unsafe, tell unit staff immediately.
• If you are not on campus and there is immediate danger, use emergency services.
• If the concern is not urgent, use the portal or contact Brookhaven Patient Services for the next available guidance.