Visiting Hours and Guidelines

Visitors can be very important to a patient's recovery, and all patients have equal visitation privileges, according to their own preferences. However, it is important to balance the benefits of visitation with the hospital's duty to provide the most therapeutic environment possible for recovery. Clinically appropriate limitations may be placed on patient's visitation when it would interfere with the care. Therefore, visitors must observe the following guidelines:

  • General visiting hours are 8 am – 7 pm. The entrance doors will be locked at 8 pm.
  • All visitors must check in with security upon arrival at the facility. Security will issue a visitor wristband which must be worn by the visitor while in the building.
  • Any visitor under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Patients are permitted to have two (2) visitors during visitation hours. Visitors can be switched out during visitation hours. Exceptions to the number of visitors that a patient is permitted to have may be made at the discretion of the unit charge nurse. Depending on the patient’s and/or roommate’s physical condition and emotional health status, the number of visitors and the length of each visit may be further limited by the nurse.
  • Visitors should be free of any symptoms of infection.
  • Manatee Memorial Hospital wants patients and their families to participate in the patient’s care. However, please DO NOT take or administer care, food, or medication without speaking to the nurse. While in the hospital, patient care is strictly guided by physician orders. This includes the patient’s nutrition. Food other than that provided by the hospital’s Food and Nutrition Service is discouraged. Please check with the patient’s nurse to ensure that food items brought by visitors will not interfere with the nutrition portion of the patient’s healthcare.

Read Our Complete Visitation Policy

There are patient care areas that do not follow general visitation due to the specialized nature of the care provided. These include:

  • The Family BirthPlace (Labor and Delivery): Limited to two banded visitors that have been designated by the patient. These are the same two visitors for the entire stay. No children under 18 are permitted. OB Triage allows one visitor per patient. Switching of visitors is not permitted. If mother is admitted, her second visitor is permitted once she goes to her room. No children are permitted in OB Triage.
  • Mother/Baby: Visiting hours are from 10 am to 7 pm. Limited to the same two banded visitors designated by the patient in Labor and Delivery. One adult banded visitor may stay the night with the mother after regular visiting hours. Siblings under the age of 18 may visit during "family time" from 3 to 7 pm. daily. Siblings who are visibly ill may be asked not to visit.
  • NICU: Limited to only two banded visitors 24 hours a day. No other visitors are permitted. No children under the age of 18 may visit. This includes siblings. Certain circumstances may be arranged at the discretion of the director/manager. All visitors may be asked to step out during shift changes which occur twice daily between the hours of 6:30 to 7:30 am and 6:30 to 7:30 pm.
  • Critical Care: Limit of two visitors in the ICU within the following timeframes: 10 am to 12 pm and 5 to 7 pm. Quiet time for patient rest is daily from 2 to 4 pm.
  • Emergency Care Center (ECC): Limit of one visitor may accompany the patient in the exam area. Other visitors may wait in the waiting area during the procedure or treatment if space allows.
  • Surgical/Procedures/Therapy Departments: Limit of two visitors may accompany the patient to these areas. The visitor may then wait in the waiting area during the procedure or therapy.
  • Outpatient Surgery: Patients may have two visitors in the outpatient surgery area. Special requests will be considered at the discretion of the unit leader. A child who is having outpatient surgery is required to have one parent stay with him or her throughout the outpatient stay. Visitors who are accompanying children or adults during outpatient surgery are requested to wait in the waiting room during surgery and testing.

Parking Your Car

For your safety, Manatee Memorial provides security patrolled, well-lit parking lots and a parking garage. Disabled parking is reserved for those with appropriate government permits and is located near most hospital entrances.

Parking Garage

The parking garage is located north of the main entrance to the hospital (near the river). It is the most efficient location for patients and visitors to park. From the second floor of the parking garage, you may take the covered crosswalk directly to the main entrance of the hospital.

Gift Shop

The "Shoppe on the River" Gift Shop, is located in the main lobby of the hospital and is part of the Manatee Memorial Foundation, Inc.. The shop offers an extensive variety of gifts for your loved one, including get well and new baby gifts, balloons and beautiful flower arrangements.

Wireless Internet Service

Complimentary wireless Internet access is available for patients and guests.

Service Requirements:

  • Laptop PC or PDA with an 802.11b or 802.11g compatible wireless network card
  • Software to support the wireless network card
  • Web browser software

Getting Started:

  • Ensure your wireless network card is enabled and set for DHCP
  • Using your software, view the available wireless networks
  • Select the MMH-GUESTS (some software may require you to enter MMH-GUESTS as the SSID)
  • Open your Web Browser software
  • Browser will display the Manatee Memorial Hospitality Wireless network Welcome Page. Click the “I agree” button on the left side of the page to accept the terms.

Flowers

Flowers are permitted in most patient areas with the exception of the Intensive and Cardiac Care Units and are available for sale in the Gift Shop, located near the tower entrance. For safety reasons, only Mylar balloons are permitted in patient care areas.

2nd Street Bistro

The 2nd Street Bistro is located on first floor and is open daily, serving fresh and healthy food options. In addition to the Bistro, our staff prepares and delivers meals to patients in their hospital rooms, and caters events inside and outside of the hospital. Our team of trained and certified dietitians works with patients to aid their recoveries through nutrition. 

The Bistro offers a 15 percent discount to members of Senior Advantage.

Visitors are also welcome to dine in the hospital cafeteria.

Vending Machines

Vending machines offering beverage and snacks are located outside of the cafe, on the ground level opposite elevators C and D, and in the Emergency Department. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Public Restrooms

Please do not use the bathrooms in patient rooms. They are reserved only for patients in order to protect their health. Public restrooms are located throughout the hospital.

ATM

For your convenience, an automated teller machine (ATM) is located in the main lobby.

Starbucks Coffee Shop

Specialty coffees and a large variety of other drinks as well as snacks are featured in Starbucks Coffee Shop located in the lobby of the Main Entrance.