For visitors at Portsmouth Regional Hospital
We want you to feel safe and comfortable when visiting a patient at our hospital. Learn more on this page about the amenities and services we offer our visitors.
Information for our visitors
To get the most enjoyment from your visit without compromising your loved one's health, we ask you to follow our visitor guidelines.
Visiting hours at our hospital
Visiting hours will vary from unit-to-unit based on both your loved one's needs and our hospital policies. For the most up-to-date visiting hours, contact the nurse's station in the unit you are attempting to visit. Special guidelines will apply if you are visiting the intensive care unit (ICU), sometimes referred to as the critical care unit (CCU).
Visitation restrictions
Circumstances may allow for specific exceptions to any visitation restrictions described on this webpage. Those circumstances include religious visitation as well as a designated support person for a patient with a disability to provide assistance with communication or other necessary components of the patient's treatment. All persons entering under an exception remain subject to appropriate infection control protocols.
Guidelines for visitation
Please know that your visit may be interrupted at any time. You may be asked to leave the room when care is being delivered, or if the person you are visiting is scheduled for tests or treatments in other locations. While you are on our campus, we request you adhere to the following restrictions:
- Ask permission from the nursing staff to take your loved one from their room.
- Avoid visiting your loved one if you have a cold, cough, sore throat or communicable disease.
- Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult and should have received all appropriate immunizations.
- Compliance with our strict no-firearms policy is mandatory.
- Follow dietary requirements or restrictions regarding bringing food and drink to your loved one.
- Get approval from the nursing supervisor if you would like to bring an animal to visit.
- Only bring non-latex balloons to the pediatric unit.
- Refrain from bringing flowers to the ICU.
If your loved one is undergoing surgery at our facility, you may opt to receive SMS updates throughout their care. Our nursing staff can also help you arrange overnight accommodations if you are planning on staying overnight.
Visitor infection prevention
Please be aware of your responsibility as a visitor for infection prevention. Handwashing is the best way to prevent the spread of infection. You should wash your hands before and after making contact with your loved one, after using the bathroom, after handling contaminated items, before eating and prior to preparing food for someone else to eat.
We also ask that you comply with notices on treatment room doors concerning isolation precautions, such as "Contact Precautions," "Droplet Precautions" or "Airborne Precautions." Before entering the room, ask the nursing staff for any pertinent information to ensure the safest possible visit.
Behavioral health visitor information
We maintain very specific visiting hours and procedures for individuals receiving behavioral health treatment. Visiting time is limited because of our active, highly structured programs.
Visiting hours
If you wish to visit our behavioral health unit, we ask that you coordinate your visit in advance with our social work department. One of our team members will be able to schedule you to come at a time that does not interfere with your loved one's treatment.
Visitor guidelines
When you arrive at our hospital, please first stop at the lobby reception desk for permission to proceed to the behavioral health unit. We ask that you leave purses, bags, briefcases and backpacks in your car to avoid bringing in a restricted item, such as food, beverages, firearms, lighters, matches or sharp objects. If you forget, we'll ask you to take the item to your car or store it behind the nursing station while you visit.
When you arrive at the unit, please check in at the behavioral health nursing station and notify staff members if you brought any items for your loved one. We will then conduct our inspection of these items to ensure they can be given. If you anticipate that a visit may not go well or may be difficult for you, let a staff member know so we can address your concerns ahead of time.
Visitor restrictions
Visitors are limited to adults 18 years old or older. In collaboration with your loved one's family, a social worker or physician will make decisions regarding all visitors.
Outpatient therapists may visit your loved one with prior arrangements by a physician. Treatment services may not be provided unless appropriate practice privileges have been granted.
Phone calls
Because everyone is participating in ongoing sessions throughout the day, no one receiving treatment will be called to the phone. Staff members will provide family members with the number of the pay phone in the unit where your loved one can be reached 10 minutes before each hour for 10 minutes only.
Behavioral health services
If you are seeking free, confidential and immediate assessment of your mental health, you can reach out 24/7 by phone. In New Hampshire, you can find support by calling (800) 924-1086. If you live outside New Hampshire, please call (800) 223-9666.
If you wish to visit our behavioral health unit, we ask that you coordinate your visit in advance with our social work department. One of our team members will be able to schedule you to come at a time that does not interfere with your loved one's treatment.
When you arrive at our hospital, please first stop at the lobby reception desk for permission to proceed to the behavioral health unit. We ask that you leave purses, bags, briefcases and backpacks in your car to avoid bringing in a restricted item, such as food, beverages, firearms, lighters, matches or sharp objects. If you forget, we'll ask you to take the item to your car or store it behind the nursing station while you visit.
When you arrive at the unit, please check in at the behavioral health nursing station and notify staff members if you brought any items for your loved one. We will then conduct our inspection of these items to ensure they can be given. If you anticipate that a visit may not go well or may be difficult for you, let a staff member know so we can address your concerns ahead of time.
Visitor restrictions
Visitors are limited to adults 18 years old or older. In collaboration with your loved one's family, a social worker or physician will make decisions regarding all visitors.
Outpatient therapists may visit your loved one with prior arrangements by a physician. Treatment services may not be provided unless appropriate practice privileges have been granted.
Because everyone is participating in ongoing sessions throughout the day, no one receiving treatment will be called to the phone. Staff members will provide family members with the number of the pay phone in the unit where your loved one can be reached 10 minutes before each hour for 10 minutes only.
If you are seeking free, confidential and immediate assessment of your mental health, you can reach out 24/7 by phone. In New Hampshire, you can find support by calling (800) 924-1086. If you live outside New Hampshire, please call (800) 223-9666.