New visitor registration process to increase safety and security at Oak Hill Hospital
Brooksville, FL — HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital will implement a visitor management system beginning Tuesday, May 20 to support the safety and well-being of patients and hospital colleagues.
“Hospitals need to be a safe space for both patient and caregivers all day, every day. Families entrust the care of their loved ones with us, and we take this responsibility seriously,” said Ken Wicker, CEO, Oak Hill Hospital. “We are implementing our new visitor registration process to safeguard our vulnerable patients and the team that cares for them while balancing our ability to welcome visitors into the hospital.”
After May 20, upon entry to the hospital, visitors will be required to check in at the registration desk and will be issued a visitor badge after presenting a valid photo ID.
Visitors may access the hospital through the Emergency Room entrance 24/7 and will check in with Security to register to visit a patient. The Emergency Room entrance will also serve as the weekend and after hours (after 5 pm daily) access point for all visitors.
Hospital visitors may also enter the hospital through the Main Entrance in the North Tower and Entrance C at the Hernando Medical Center entrance. The Main Entrance is open to visitors between 5:00am and 5:00pm, and Entrance C/Hernando Medical Center is accessible to visitors between 7:00am and 5:00pm Outside of those hours, all visitors will use the Emergency Room to enter the hospital.
Community members wishing to access Dunkin’ or Subway will not need to register with Security or Volunteer Services unless they also wish to visit a hospital patient.
For the convenience of visitors and patients, the hospital offers a shuttle service that visitor may use by calling 352-606-RIDE (7422) for transport from the parking lot to the hospital or vice versa.
Medical offices on site will not be affected by the visitor registration process.
Visitor management systems are common in hospitals today to track the number of patient visits, ensure that only authorized individuals are able to access the hospital, maintain a safe environment for patients regarding the spread of infections and germs, maintain patient confidentiality, account for the individuals on site at any given moment especially during an emergency situation, manage the risk of unauthorized visitors entering restricted areas, and identify people who may need help while at the hospital, said Wicker.