Visiting Hours

Boone Hospital Center seeks to create and maintain a caring, healing environment for patients while attempting to honor patient preferences regarding visitors.  Visiting hours are 8 am to 8 pm.  Adjustments may be made based on the patient's clinical condition; the safety, security, and privacy rights of other patients; and applicable operational concerns of Boone Hospital.

Being a Good Visitor

Knowing how to be a good visitor in the hospital can make your relative or friend cope more easily with the difficulty of a hospital stay. These tips can help you be a better visitor:

• If possible, try to schedule your visit with the patient. This gives the patient an opportunity to look and feel their best.
• Some patients are too ill to have visitors or may not feel up to it, but they may not tell you. Be sensitive to the patient's needs. It may be better to send a card.
• If you are ill, do not visit. Do not take sick or unruly children to visit a recovering patient.
• Knock and ask permission to enter the room. This will enable the patient to be prepared for someone to come in.
• Just coming to visit a patient in the hospital is important. If you feel you must offer something more, ask what the patient might need, such as something to read, a garment, photo, a toiletry item or a favorite item from home.
• It may be best to check on any restrictions the patient may have in receiving gifts before sending or bringing something. For example, patients with respiratory problems may not be able to receive flowers or plants and some patients may have dietary restrictions.
• When visiting, focus on the patient's thoughts, feelings and concerns, not your problems or those of others in the hospital.
• Don't compare the patient to others with similar problems, even if your purpose it to relate a hopeful prognosis.
• Do not criticize the treatment the patient is receiving. It is important the patient believe that everything possible is being done. A positive attitude is important for recovery.
• Do not sit on the bed unless invited. If you usually kiss or touch the patient, do so as you normally would. This kind of behavior makes the patient feel comfortable.
• Do not sit on the clean, empty bed in the room as this soils the bed linens.
• If you are tired or pre-occupied with other thoughts, you may not be a positive influence on the patient. Postpone your visit until a time when your full attention can be devoted to the patient.
• If a doctor or nurse comes into the room while you're visiting, excuse yourself and step out of the room. This will allow the patient to ask questions that are personal.

Hospital visiting hours are designed to allow the patient a liberal amount of time for visitors. However, a visit of 10 to 20 minutes is often enough for both the patient and visitor, particularly when the patient is very ill or tired. An hour should be the limit per visit.

Infection Control

Boone Hospital Center has a strong interest in protecting all our patients, visitors and staff from infections and communicable diseases. For this reason, the staff follow precautions, called Universal Precautions, to prevent the spread of organisms (germs) from all patients, not just patients who have infections or communicable diseases. These precautions may include hand washing and special clothing such as gloves, gowns, etc.

Under certain circumstances, it will be necessary for you to wear special clothing and wash your hands during your visit with a patient. A Universal Precautions Plus sign on the patient's door will give you instructions on what you need to do. This may mean wearing a mask, gown and/or gloves. If you are not sure what you need to do, please ask a nurse at the nurses' station to help clarify these instructions and assist you.

Many patients have weakened immune systems that make them very susceptible to a variety of illnesses. People who are ill with a cold, fever, diarrhea, flu or a communicable disease should not visit a patient. In addition, children who have been exposed to or have chicken pox, measles, mumps, pinkeye or rubella should not come to the hospital to visit a patient.

General

Sending Mail or Cards

Mail may be sent to BHC patients addressed as follows:

[Patient's full name]
c/o Boone Hospital Center
1600 E. Broadway
Columbia MO 65201

Be sure to use the patient's first name. Do not use "Mrs. John Smith." Instead, use "Mary Smith" to ensure proper delivery to your recipient.

Additionally, if you use the patient's home address as the return address on the mailing envelope, it will make forwarding mail onto them at home easy in the event that they have been discharged from the hospital early.

You may also send an electronic card to patients at Boone Hospital.

Phoning Patients

Patients may place outgoing calls 24 hours a day. To avoid interrupting their rest, incoming calls to patient rooms will be accepted between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. only. Each patient has a phone number, which can be dialed directly by family and friends.

Location and Parking

Boone Hospital Center is easy to locate. Ample parking is available in the large lot south of the hospital. Recreational vehicles (RVs) are permitted to park on the lot for seven days and must be registered with the security services department. To register your RV, dial 573.815.3385. Please be sure to lock your vehicle before leaving it.

Cafeteria

Boone's cafeteria offers a variety of food and is available to visitors and guests. A 24-hour vending service is located inside the dining room and features snacks and beverages for your convenience.

Housing

If you are from outside of the Columbia area, you may wish to take advantage of several housing opportunities. Overnight or longer-term housing is sometimes available from Stephens College, Columbia College or the University of Missouri Housing office. You may also want to check the Columbia Tribune for rental options. A motel/hotel information sheet is available in the hospital lobby or phone 573.815.6491. The Columbia Chamber of Commerce web site also provides a list of local hotel and motel accommodations.

Gift Shop

The Boone Hospital gift shop is located across from the information desk in the hospital lobby and carries a large variety of gifts and other items, including cards, candy, flowers, postage stamps and personal items. Staffed by volunteers, the gift shop offers a 10 percent discount on purchases greater than $5 when Value Card holders present their card. You may also send gifts to patients from home using our online gift shop.

Gift Shop Hours

Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sat & Sunday 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Smoking Policy

Boone Hospital Center continues to strive to better the quality of life for our patients, visitors and staff. To be consistent with that aim, the hospital has implemented a no-smoking policy to provide a safe and toxin-free environment. Smoking is not permitted in the hospital or in buildings owned by the hospital.