PATIENTS AND VISITORS
For Patients and Visitors
Visitation at Meritus Health:
Meritus welcomes loved ones to visit a patient. Our policies are meant to respond to each patient’s diverse and individual needs. Visitation will be balanced with patient and staff safety, while protecting the privacy of all patients.
Family members and visitors collaborate with the nursing staff to coordinate visitation as directed by the patient and as appropriate to the patient's medical diagnosis and safety. In an emergency situation, visitors may be asked to leave at the staff's discretion.
Visitors are required to wash their hands before and after spending time with a patient. Visitors ages 16 and older will need to show photo I.D. and wear a visitor badge while they are on campus. For everyone’s safety, we do a weapons screening when you arrive.
Visitors may be subject to health screening.
Meritus will not restrict, limit or otherwise deny the family presence or visitation privileges based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Parking
Upon your arrival to Meritus Medical Center, you may park in a parking space of your choosing. Employees have been asked to park in the yellow-lined spaces only, to allow patients and visitors access to the spaces closer to the facilities.
The image below shows the Meritus Medical Center/Robinwood Professional Center campus.
Please note the emergency entrance, located at the red circle with the plus symbol.
Visitors and patients seeking non-emergency care should enter at the main hospital entrance, marked with the blue circle containing the Meritus Health logo.
Entrances to Robinwood Professional Center are color coded: green, purple, yellow, blue, silver, and orange.
Gift Shop
The Gift Shop at Meritus Medical Center is located inside the main entrance to the right of the reception area. Any of the gift shop items may be delivered to patients and staff within the hospital by calling 800-386-5128. Please have your credit card number ready, along with the patient or staff member's name and room number or department, and your gift will be delivered promptly.
About Us
Meritus Medical Center Gift Shop - 301-790-8181.
The Gift Shop is operated by the Meritus Medical Center Auxiliary, Inc., a registered, non-profit, charitable group. Allow us to help you find the perfect gift to brighten your loved one’s stay at Meritus Medical Center! Fresh cut floral arrangements arrive daily. In addition, we offer a delightful mix of cards, baby items, jewelry, handmade soaps, candles, candy, magazines, plush, and a variety of other fun and functional personal and home accessories. Bright helium balloons are available to make any gift extra cheerful. Call, or stop by, and discover why visitors feel that the Meritus Medical Center Gift Shop is “the best hospital gift shop!”
Hours of Operation:
Monday- 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Tuesday- 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Wednesday- 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Thursday- 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Friday- 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Saturday & Sunday- Noon - 5 p.m.
Delivery Service
Any of the gift shop items can be delivered to patients and staff within the hospital during regular business hours! Just call 301-790-8181. Please have the person's name and room or department number ready along with your credit card number. Your gift will be delivered promptly.
Flowers
Available for purchase in the giftshop. Free delivery is available, please contact the 301-790-8181 to purchase.
Where Does the Money Go?
The mission of the Meritus Medical Center Auxiliary's Gift Shop is to generate financial support to purchase new medical equipment, enhance our hospital's patient care programs, and to provide scholarships for future healthcare practitioners.
Dining
Meritus Medical Center dining options include the Robin's Cove and the Coffee Kiosk. All of our dining options accept major credit cards, cash, or gift certificates, which are available from the hospital cashier.
The Robin's Cove is located on the bottom level, easily accessed by the elevators down the hall to the right of the main entrance. Open 6:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m., the Cove serves hot meals from 6:00 am - 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., daily.
The Coffee Shop is located in the main lobby of the hospital, near the gift shop. The Coffee Shop offers a variety of freshly-brewed coffee, tea, and other specialty drinks as well as yogurt, fresh fruits, bagels, and pastries. The Coffee Shop is open from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Internet Access
There is a public computer kiosk to access the internet located in the outpatient testing waiting area. In addition, a wireless network named "MH Guest" is available for use throughout the hospital. To access MH Guest, connect your wireless device to the network, then open an internet browser and read and agree to the terms and conditions. There is no charge to patients or visitors for internet access.
What to Expect When you Stay at Meritus Medical Center
Preparing for a stay in a hospital can be a worrisome situation. To help you and your family prepare, we have compiled this information to help you gain an understanding of what you can expect when you stay at or visit Meritus Medical Center.
HELPFUL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR STAY
Before Your Arrival
For planned trips to the hospital, you may choose to pack a few personal items to bring with you. To make your stay more comfortable, we suggest bringing:
- Photo ID, insurance information
- A list of current medications
- A list of any known allergies
- Basic toiletries, such as deodorant, toothbrush, or a hair brush. Of course, these will be provided if you prefer to leave yours at home.
- Books, magazines, cards, knitting, or other things to occupy any downtime you may have
- Comfortable clothing to go home in
We recommend that you do not bring large amounts of cash, expensive jewelry, or other valuables. Our campus is a weapons free campus- no knives, guns or weapons of any kind will be permitted into the building. Please leave these items at home.
Arriving to Meritus Medical Center
PARKING
Free valet parking is available at the main entrance of Meritus Medical Center from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. Upon your arrival to Meritus Medical Center, you may park in a parking space of your choosing. Employees have been asked to park in the yellow-lined spaces only, to allow patients and visitors access to the spaces closer to the facilities.
PATIENT FOLDER
Each patient will receive a patient folder which includes information about Meritus Medical Center, area resources, and more. This folder should also hold any and all information handed to you by your care team and should be taken home with you.
During Your Stay
During your stay at Meritus Medical Center, a variety of services are available to you including:
YOUR ROOM
Meritus Medical Center boasts all single-patient rooms. Each room features a large window, a bed, a chair for visitors, and a private bathroom. Within your room, you can expect:
ROOM TEMPERATURE CONTROL
If you wish to change the temperature in your room you can do so with the thermostat. It can be found near the door to the room.
PHONE
A phone is available to you at all times and can be found on your bedside table.
CARE BOARD
Each room has a care board that will feature the date, the names of members of your care team, and other pertinent information.
MERITUS MEDICAL CENTER EMPLOYEES
All employees are required to wear badges identifying them as health system employees. If you are in need of anything during your stay, please do not hesitate to ask any employee for assistance. Each employee who enters your room should introduce themselves and wash their hands. Please do not hesitate to ask an employee their name or to wash their hands.
IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE
If at any time you need a nurses' assistance, please press the nurse call button located on your handheld.
DINING
For patients at Meritus Medical Center, a unit assistant will stop by to take your order for each meal. Meals will be delivered and removed by friendly nutrition services staff.
For your visitors, Meritus Medical Center dining options include the Robin's Cove and the Coffee Kiosk. All of our dining options accept major credit cards, cash, or gift certificates, which are available from the hospital cashier.
INTERNET ACCESS
There is a public computer kiosk to access the internet located in the outpatient testing waiting area. In addition, a wireless network named "MHGUEST" is available for use throughout the hospital. To access MHGUEST, connect your wireless device to the network, then open an internet browser and read and agree to the terms and conditions. There is no charge to patients or visitors for internet access.
PATIENT ADVOCACY
Patient advocacy offers many services. Patient advocates will assist in providing direction to the appropriate resources for coordinating your care. They can help find answers to any questions or concerns you may have, and are also are called on to intervene in crisis situations and help negotiate resolutions when needed. Additionally, patient advocates are trained to help you with advance care planning and the completion of Advance Directives.
PATIENT INFORMATION LINE
If your loved one is in the hospital, you can call the Patient Information Line at 301-790-8160 to verify their room number to send flowers, call, or visit.
After Your Discharge
Your care does not stop when you are discharged home from the hospital. Meritus Health care managers will call to check on you, ensure you understand your discharge instructions, and help you find any additional care you may need.
We know that you have choices when planning a hospital stay, and we appreciate you choosing Meritus Medical Center. Because your honest feedback is important to us, you may be receiving a survey in the mail shortly. Please send it back with your comments on your experience in our hospital. Remember, we are listening to you!
Discover more:
- Accepted Insurances
- Advance Directives
- Billing Information
- CMS Price Transparency
- Corporate Compliance
- Financial Assistance
- Language Interpretation Services
- Masking
- Medical Record Request
- Meritus Health Notice of Privacy Practices
- MyChart Patient Portal
- Non-Discrimination Notice
- Patient Advocacy
- Patient and Family Advisory Council
- Patient Rights Responsibilities
- Risk Management
- Translation Disclaimer
- Viral Illness
- Zero Harm
Meritus is currently operating under Green Visitation:
In most cases, we allow unrestricted visitation 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Please review the guidelines below to understand our restrictions:
Emergency Department
Due to limited space and to maintain confidentiality, we encourage no more than two visitors at the patient’s bedside.
Pediatric Patients may have both parents at the bedside. The patients’ parents will be provided armbands with the patient's name.
Behavioral Health Unit (1 West)
All patients may have visitors over the age of 12, unless the physician indicates otherwise. If a physician allows, children under the age of 12 may visit if they are supervised by an adult.
Routine visiting hours via Zoom or in-person will be 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Sunday and Saturday, and hospital-recognized holidays, and patient faith-based holidays.
Patients are limited to two visitors at a time.
Women and Children’s Unit
Family Birthing Unit
- No visitors under the age of 12 years old unless a sibling of a newborn.
- Young siblings must be accompanied and cared for by an adult other than the patient.
- After delivery, one adult may stay overnight with the patients.
- Each patient room may have three visitors (labor and postpartum). They may change out, but these three must include siblings. Additional visitors must wait in the Welcome Center.
- There will be no change out of the three support persons for the first golden hour after delivery when the baby is skin-to-skin with the mother.
Special Care Nursery
- We encourage parents to visit as often as possible and do not restrict visitation hours in the Special Care Nursery.
- Parents will be allowed to provide a list of names for up to four family members/friends who may visit their baby in their absence.
- Parents may accompany other visitors who are not on the list. Any non-family visitors must be over the age of 18.
- Visitors should be limited to two at a time at the bedside unless special arrangements have been made with the nursing staff.
- Before a sibling visit, a health screening questionnaire will need to be completed by a parent.
- Visitors are encouraged to keep noise and stimulation, such as from cell phones to a minimum while visiting the Special Care Nursery.