Visitors

Visiting Hours

At IU Health La Porte Hospital, we realize that visitors are an important part of your recovery. As your healthcare provider, we recommend following these guidelines to promote your rest and time for healing. If you have any concerns please discuss them with your caregiver.

Hours:

General and Pediatrics, 11 am to 8:30 pm, daily

Maternal Care/OB, fathers are welcome anytime; other visitors, noon to 8 pm, daily

Rehabilitation Unit, sixth floor, 4 to 8 pm, Monday through Friday; unrestricted, Saturday and Sunday; limit to two – three visitors at a time

Behavioral Health Services, seventh floor, 6 to 8 pm, Tuesday and Thursday; 1 to 8 pm, Saturday and Sunday; limit to two visitors at a time

Continuing Care Center, 9 am to 8:30 pm, daily

Critical Care waiting, third floor, open hours, please discuss with your caregiver, limit to two visitors at a time

Cardiovascular Intensive Care, second floor, open hours, please discuss with your caregiver

Emergency Department, open 24 hours, limit two visitors per patient room at any time

• Absolutely NO weapons of any kind are allowed in any of our facilities.
• After 8:30 pm, passes to visit someone in one of the units may be obtained in the Emergency Department.
• Children under age 14 coming to visit a patient, must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
• Shirts and shoes are required at all times.
• We reserve the right to limit or restrict visitation.
• Short visits are best for ill or recovering patients.
• Speak softly as to not disturb other patients.
• Please do not jeopardize the patient’s health by visiting if you are unhealthy.

Parking

Parking is available in several lots adjacent to IU Health La Porte Hospital. There are ample handicap spaces that are marked accordingly near the front of each visitor lot.

Shuttle Service

Shuttle Service via the GEM to and from your vehicle is available Monday through Friday from 7 am to 3:30 pm. IU Health La Porte Guest Relations staff at the main entrance can radio the driver for free.

Waiting Areas

There are designated lounge areas for visitors on the main floor in the lobby, on each patient floor and in specific areas such as critical care units, Emergency Department and Surgery. In Surgery waiting rooms, a volunteer hostess is on duty to keep family members informed about the progress of surgery.

Smoking Policy

The mission of IU Health La Porte Hospital is to make a positive difference in the communities we serve by providing quality healthcare through excellence in service, technology and education. In an effort to promote this mission, IU Health La Porte Hospital is committed to the promotion of health, which includes modeling healthy behaviors. Tobacco and tobacco products are known carcinogens and a major cause of illnesses and diseases. To demonstrate that IU Health La Porte Hospital is a leader in health initiatives that promote a tobacco free environment, it is appropriate that IU Health La Porte Hospital commits to being a tobacco and smoke free environment. IU Health La Porte Hospital, in all buildings or on any grounds inside or out, is a 100 percent smoke free environment. Resources are available to help quit smoking. Ask your caregiver for your options.

Cafeteria

The Cafeteria is located on the lower level with nearly round-the-clock hours, from 5:30 am to 3 am. The Cafeteria offers a hot breakfast buffet from 7 am to 10:30 am, a lunch buffet from 11 am to 2 pm and dinner buffet from 4 pm to 6:30 pm. The Café Deli/Grill is open Monday through Friday from 11 am to 3 am and weekends from 7 am to 3 am. The Café Deli/Grill has a wide variety of menu items made to order. Visitors are welcome.

Vending Machines

Vending machines for snacks and beverages are located in the Emergency Department, first floor. The second floor has a coffee machine in the SameDay Center waiting area, surgery waiting area and the cardiovascular unit. Volunteers are available to provide and assist with free coffee and hot chocolate during the hours of 9:30 am to 7 pm.

Health Education: HealthQuarters

HealthQuarters is a health-related education resource center serving patients, their families and the community. The service provides access to print, electronic and digital healthcare information. Whether you are looking for information about a recent diagnosis, long-term illness, or what you can do to stay healthy…etc., they will help locate it for you. Call ext. 5487 from your room or from outside dial 219.325.5487.

Interpreters

Some patients may require foreign language or sign language interpreters to help communicate medical information. IU Health La Porte Hospital has contracted with CyraCom International, Inc., to provide telephonic translation services for our patients and families who do not speak English. CyraCom provides interpretation in more than 150 languages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For issues of non-medical nature, such as general hospital information, family members or volunteer interpreters may be utilized. CyraCom services provide a qualified medical interpreter for no cost in order to provide effective communication and to protect the patient’s confidentiality and privacy. Special needs services for the hearing, visually or physically impaired such as sign language and TTY services are available free of charge. TTY services are located in the Emergency Department and communication boards are available from Critical Care. Please let your caregiver know you need this service so they can arrange it for you.

Gift Shop

Operated by the IU Health La Porte Hospital Auxiliary, the Wishing Well Gift Shop is located in the visitor lobby near Patient Registration, first floor. Hours are 9 am to 8 pm Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 6 pm Friday, 9 am to 3 pm Saturday, and 11 am to 4 pm Sunday. A variety of items are available to cater to most everyone’s tastes—jewelry, cards, flowers, plush animals, home accents, candles and more!

Newspapers and Magazines

Local and national newspapers can be purchased in the lower level outside the Cafeteria across from the Cashier’s Office. You may request a newspaper be delivered by calling the IU Health La Porte Guest Relations ext. 1100. The cost varies and exact change is required. Magazines and other reading materials are offered through IU Health La Porte Hospital and the La Porte County Public Library. Each Tuesday an IU Health La Porte Hospital volunteer visits patients with the cart to offer a wide variety of reading materials.

Lost and Found

Patient Registration maintains the lost and found. If you have misplaced any of your personal items, please notify your caregiver.

A Place Apart: Our Chapel

The IU Health La Porte Hospital Family Chapel is located on the first floor. Our chapel is a quiet place for prayer, contemplation and worship for all visitors, regardless of their faith tradition. Once a month and during special seasons, a live service of Christian worship is conducted in the Chapel at 9:30 am. Sunday morning and broadcast on Hospital Channel 10. Recorded services are broadcast every Sunday at 9:30 am. The Chapel also hosts a free musical presentation called First Friday in the Chapel on the first Friday of the month. Ask your caregiver for information. At times when the chapel is being used for public worship or other functions, an alternative quiet place will be designated.

Cashier/ATM/Stamps

A cashier station and ATM are located in the lower level of the hospital outside of the Cafeteria. For your convenience, stamps can be purchased at the cashier. Hours of operation are 7:30 am through 3:30 pm. The automated teller machine is located adjacent to the cashier station, and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Pay Phones

Pay phones are located near the Cafeteria, Emergency Department and Patient Registration. In addition, there are courtesy phones available for local calls in SameDay Center waiting on the second floor and critical care waiting on the third floor in room 3214.

Cellular Phones

Cellular phones may be used if they are kept on vibrate and are not disturbing other patients on the floor. We thank you in advance for your understanding if we need to request you refrain from using your cell phone in certain areas or situations.

Internet Service

IU Health La Porte Hospital is proud to offer all our guests free access to the Internet via our GuestNet wireless network. You can find the GuestNet as an open broadcast network with the SSID of GuestNet and no wireless security in place.

Public Restrooms

For your convenience, public restrooms are located on the first floor and lower level of the hospital, as well as the Emergency Department, second floor and critical care waiting.

Information Desk

The front Information Desk can provide you with a list of community information, including but not limited to, local restaurants and hotels, printed directions and more!
The Information Desk can also assist your quest for more information on community services, hospital services or point you in the right direction of the staff to talk to. Need a newspaper or item from the gift shop delivered to your room? For any of the above requests, just call ext. 1100 from a patient room.

“Caught You Caring” Employee Recognition

Do you want to recognize good service or a good deed that you or a family member received while here at IU Health La Porte Hospital? Patients and family members are encouraged to complete a “Caught You Caring” form when they feel an employee, physician or volunteer deserves to be recognized for their customer service. Forms are located in the patient’s bedside table. Ask for assistance if you do not find one or need help filling it out.

When You Want to Say “Thank You”

When you or someone close to you has been a patient at IU Health La Porte Hospital, you may wish to express more gratitude than just a verbal thank you. Due to strict governmental regulations, our staff is not able to accept any personal gifts from patients or families. There is one sincere thank you that is appreciated by the staff: a gift to The Foundation.

If you have any questions you may talk to your caregiver, or call The Foundation office at ext. 2471 from your room or 877.265.4539 from outside IU Health La Porte Hospital.