Burn Center Critical Care Unit
Visiting loved ones who are critically ill or injured is not easy. Added to the extreme difficulty of seeing a loved one so ill and vulnerable, are the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the critical care unit. It takes a special effort to control your own emotions and still have the strength to contribute to your loved one’s care. Your visit is important; it can be a meaningful experience for you, and truly soothing and healing for the patient. It is our hope that the following guidelines will assist you during your visit.
General Visiting Guidelines
Please rotate visitors as needed. We ask that visitors respect the patient’s privacy and step out of the room when care is given or when asked. When asked to step out, please leave the unit completely. Do not stand outside the room.
Accessing the Burn Center: Where Are We Located?
The Burn Center is located on the 4th floor of University of Utah Hospital. Free valet parking is available for all visitors. From the main lobby, take the visitor elevators and follow the signs to Burn Center entrance. Hospital maps are available at the Customer Service desk in the main lobby. (For a floor map, please see the University Hospital location.)
Before entering the unit, visitors need to use the intercom to notify staff that they would like to enter. This is needed each time you enter the unit. Hand sanitizer is provided prior to entering the unit and should be used before and after visiting.
Families and friends visiting patients with a 20 percent or more burn must wear a gown and gloves while in the room. A hat and mask must be worn if they participate in dressing changes. The skin protects the body from infection and people with large burns lack the ability to protect themselves from infections that visitors can bring.
Waiting Rooms
The burn center support room is located down the hall from the entrance to the unit. We appreciate your help in keeping the area clean. There is a telephone for your use. Visitor restrooms are near the elevators. Restrooms located on the unit are for patient use only.
Visiting Hours
We allow one family member to sleep in the room overnight. Please ask a team member any questions you might have about how to convert the couch into a bed. While it is our goal to accommodate each patient’s and family’s needs, patient care comes first and we may limit visitation as needed.
Visiting on Day of Surgery
Following surgery, no visitors are allowed in the patient room until the medical team allows. This is typically two hours after the patient returns from surgery. A loved one should be available to speak to the doctor in the waiting room after surgery.
Children & Pets
Children on the Unit
Children are welcome to visit, however it is important that they are supervised by an adult. Please do not leave children unsupervised in the waiting room or hallways. Children must have shoes on when visiting the patient care areas and should be reminded to stay off the floor. If you have children visitors, our psychosocial team offers emotional preparation before you visit for the first time.
During cold and flu season, children under the age of 14 are not allowed in patient care areas of the hospital. If you have children visitors, emotional preparation is offered to them before visiting for the first time.
Playroom
The burn unit playroom is next to the inpatient front desk. Children under the age of 13 must be supervised by an adult at all times in the playroom. Patients and families are welcome to take items from the playroom to use in their room. Any plastic toy found in the playroom is reusable and should be returned to the dirty toy bin next to the sink. Books, board games, play-dough, and other such items can be kept by families after discharge. Please clean-up after each use so that others may enjoy the space.
Pets
We recognize the important part animals play in healing. Family pets current on vaccinations may visit. Please make arrangements with the care team. Our volunteer services department offers visitation from a certified pet therapy dog or cat if the patient’s pet is unable to visit.
Family Spokesperson and Phone Calls
We recommend that families select a spokesperson to assist with communication between the burn care team and the family. This person can contact the unit for updates on the patient’s condition and notify other family members and friends. We will provide this person with a patient security code to use when you call to get information about the patient’s condition. Please limit who receives the security code.
As your loved one heals, a family member may be asked to become more involved with the patient’s wound care and therapies to facilitate a successful transition back home.
Kitchen Access, Laundry Access, & Other Info
Family Kitchen / Food Storage
The family kitchen, located across from the clinic, has a variety of food available. Patients and families are able to keep food in the fridges both on the unit and in the family kitchen. All items being put into a patient fridge must be sealed securely and labeled with name and date.
Laundry
Washers and dryers are available on the unit and in the family kitchen. The key for the laundry closet and detergent are available at the front desk. When using the unit washer and dryer, put your room number on the white board located inside the laundry door to keep track of belongings. Please leave the washer door open for ventilation.
Entertainment
Each room has an Amazon Fire Stick. You will be required to log in or create accounts for streaming services and responsible for signing out prior to discharge. Instructions are posted in each room. DVDs and a small selection of CDs are available for in-room use. Please speak with a staff member for more details.
Fighting the Flu
Family and friends who are ill with an infectious disease, such as a cold or flu, should not visit. There are special guidelines during flu season that all visitors need to follow.
Gifts
Fresh flowers and plants are not allowed in the intensive care units as they carry bacteria, mold and fungus. Only Mylar balloons are permitted in patient rooms. Latex balloons pose a danger to people with latex allergies and present a potential choking danger to children.
Valuables
Valuables and other belongings should be taken home. There is limited storage space in the unit so please limit your belongings. Please do not leave personal items such as laptops, cell phones or MP3 players unsupervised. We are not responsible for these items.
Smoking
All hospitals in the United States are smoke-free. The smoking area for visitors is located outside the front entrance of the hospital. It is located on the north end of the north terrace.
For general hospital guidelines, please see the University of Utah Hospital Visitor Information.
Traveling from Outside of Utah?
Verified Burn Center Experts
Why does it matter that we are a verified burn center? The American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons designed a rigorous review program that ensures verified centers offer the best care for their patients. This includes the whole patient experience from the time of injury through rehabilitation.
It also means we meet the highest quality of care available because we meet these high quality standards. The standards are for personnel qualifications, facilities resources, organizational structure, and medical care services.
