Policies
Policies
Find VA policies on privacy and patient rights, family rights, visitation, and more.
Privacy and patient rights
Read VA's national privacy and patient rights policies
Family rights
Read VA's national family rights policy
Visitation policy
Before visiting a patient at a VA Eastern Colorado facility, check the COVID-19 health protection level and review the below guidelines. For specific clinic or ward visiting hours and information, call 303-399-8020 or visit the location page.
Entrance Screening
We allow self-screening for COVID-19 upon arrival to our facilities, but you may be asked screening questions. All patients and visitors, including support persons, who enter our facilities must wear a cloth mask or medical face mask. Gaiters and bandanas are not permitted. If patients or visitors are wearing a gaiter or bandana as a mask, they will be given a medical face mask upon entrance. If the patient or visitor prefers to wear his or her own medical mask or respirator, that is permitted if it does not have an exhalation valve. Visitors cannot take their mask down or remove it during their visit. If they do, they may be asked to leave at once. Additionally, future visits may not be allowed if a visitor violates any of the personal protective equipment guidelines.
Washing hands
You must follow hand-hygiene policy guidelines, which require you to practice good hand hygiene when you enter and exit patient rooms, and at other times as directed by staff.
Staying home if you are ill
If you have a communicable disease, you won't be allowed to visit our patient care facilities, including our medical center and community-based outpatient clinics.
Following infection-control guidelines
Before you enter a patient's room, you must report to the nurses' station for instructions and follow guidelines on infection-control signs.
Visiting during outpatient appointments, procedures
When a facility health protection level is low or medium, three visitors are allowed per day with no same-day switches. When a facility level is high, or the visit involves a COVID-19-positive patient, only one support person is allowed to accompany Veterans to outpatient procedures and appointments. You will need to wear a face mask the entire time you are in the facility. Please wash your hands frequently. If s Veteran presents with more than the permitted visitors, some will be requested to wait outside the facility. Depending on an area's space limitations, you may be requested to wait outside of the facility after accompanying the Veteran to an appointment. In lieu of entrance, we will offer you a care card. The medical provider will use the information you provide on the care card to contact you and give you the opportunity to take part in the Veteran’s appointment by telephone or video.
Bringing children to outpatient care
Children under the age of 18 may present with their Veteran caregiver. All visitors over 2 years of age will be required to wear a face mask upon entry into the facility. As always telehealth appointments are also available to meet your care needs. If you are a Veteran who is a nursing mother, you are permitted to bring your nursing child with you. Additionally homeless Veterans seeking homeless services may have their children accompany them.
Visiting inpatient medical-surgical, intensive care and spinal cord injury and disorder units
When a facility health protection level is low or medium, three bedside visitors are allowed with same-day switches permitted unless the Veteran is COVID-19-positive. When a facility level is high, only two persons are allowed for COVID-19-negative and one for COVID-19-positive and no same-day switches. Normal visiting hours are between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Clinical care teams can make exceptions to coordinate care for Veterans who rely on in-person supports or caregiver training when necessary to the Veteran's care or in preparation for discharge.
Visiting inpatient mental health units
When a facility health protection level is low or medium, three bedside visitors are allowed per day with same-day switches permitted. If the Veteran is COVID-19-positive, no visitors at this time. When a facility level is high, only one person is allowed per day for COVID-19-negative and no visitors for COVID-19-positive. Normal visiting hours are between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. At this time, no visitation for COVID-19-positive patients.
Visiting emergency department
When a facility health protection level is low or medium, one support person is allowed per day with same-day switches permitted. When a facility level is high, only one person is allowed per day. Visitation is available 24/7.
Visiting seriously ill patients
Facility health protection levels do not put limits on visits by relatives and friends for COVID-19-negative Veterans at end of life or in hospice care. If the Veteran is COVID-19-positive, three bedside visitors will be allowed with same-day switches permitted. Visitors under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a person over 18. The visitation times for COVID-19-positive patients will be based on clinical assessments and support availability, and children under the age of 5 may be offered a virtual visit once discussed with the family. If a patient is extubated for 30 minutes for air exchanges, visitors cannot be in the room.
VA general visitation policy
The medical center respects the patient's right to make decisions about his or her care, treatment and services, and to involve the patient's family in care, treatment, and services decisions to the extent permitted by the patient or surrogate decision-maker.
"Family" is defined as a group of two or more persons united by blood, or adoptive, marital, domestic partnership, or other legal ties. The family may also be a person or persons not legally related to the individual (such as significant other, friend or caregiver) whom the individual considers to be family. A family member may be the surrogate decision-maker, as defined in VHA Handbook 1004.02, if authorized to make care decisions for the individual, should he or she lose decision-making capacity or choose to delegate decision making to another.
The medical center allows a family member, friend or other individual to be present with the patient for emotional support during the course of their stay. The medical center allows for the presence of a support individual of the patient's choice, unless the individual's presence infringes on others’ rights or safety, or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated. The individual may or may not be the patient's surrogate decision-maker or legally authorized representative.
The hospital prohibits discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.
Other considerations during your visit
Giving privacy
Our staff may ask you to leave the room when they’re caring for patients. If a staff member asks you to leave a patient's room, you may continue your visit in the day room, waiting area, or any other public area of the facility.
Limiting your visit
Our doctors may limit, restrict or deny visits for the medical well-being of a patient. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Visiting as a member of a religious community
If you’re a member of the religious community, we encourage you to visit patients who belong to your church or religious group. However, you’re not allowed to do general visitation by going from bed to bed, ward to ward or unit to unit.
Visiting a residential facility
Visitation is available however must be coordinated through the Veteran's care team. Virtual visits can be coordinated. Exceptions are only made for outdoor or through-the-window visits where applicable.
Visiting patients in restraints
In general, you won't be allowed to visit patients who are in restraints. If the treatment team decides that your visit could have a positive effect on the patient, then you may have a supervised visit with the patient when a staff member removes the restraints. Our staff will document how the patient responds to you and other visitors.
Bringing food
You may bring small amounts of candy, fruit and other food items if the nursing staff says they are appropriate for a patient's diet. You may not bring fresh fruit and flowers to patients who are receiving critical care, and you can’t eat or drink in those units.
Prohibited items
You're not allowed to bring weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs or other prohibited items, unless an item is part of conducting official business authorized by the director or designee. If you have questions about what qualifies as official business, contact the facility. Because the VA medical center is federal property, all visitors and bags may be searched.
Security
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center has 24-hour police patrols of the facility and parking lots. For general police assistance, dial 720-857-5800. In case of an emergency, dial 720-857-3911. Report all suspicious or criminal activity, vehicle accidents and personal property losses to the VA police while on the facility grounds as soon as possible.
Advance directives
When faced with difficult decisions about health care, you may struggle with the question of "what should be done?" These resources can help you deal with tough decisions about health care and how to plan for it.
Health Care Ethics Resources for Veterans, Patients, and Families
VA Form 10-0137 - VA Advance Directive: Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Will
What You Should Know about Advance Directives
Report patient quality of care concerns
Visit the Joint Commission page to report concerns you have about the quality of patient care.