Visiting Saint Michael's Medical Center

At Saint Michael’s, we encourage patients to have family and friends visit and comfort them during their stay. The support and encouragement of loved ones is an important part of the healing process. In preparation for their stay, patients and their families can download an electronic copy of our Patient Handbook below.

Saint Michael's Medical Center Patient Handbook

For your convenience, we have prepared a quick overview of useful information for our visitors.

Visiting Hours
If you are visiting a loved one, we ask that only two visitors be present in the room at one time in consideration of the needs of other patients. Additionally, anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms should be encouraged to keep in touch by phone only.

All visitors must stop at the information desk in the main lobby. A receptionist will give visitors a pass and direct them to the patient's room.

Children may visit patients on certain units. Arrangements should be made in advance with the Nursing Unit. Visits should be limited to 30 minutes. Children must be accompanied by an adult and should be free of any communicable diseases. Children should not be left unattended in the lobby or other waiting areas.

Between 5 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., one person may visit. Prearrangements must be made, and a special pass must be issued.

Please keep in mind:

• When two visitors are already present, additional visitors can wait in the main lobby.
  
• A patient may reserve the right to refuse visitors by notifying the nurse manager.
  
• When end of life is imminent, special visitations will be granted.
  
• Special visiting privileges that are needed outside of these guidelines will be granted on a case-by-case basis by the Chief Nursing Officer.

Parking
Visitor parking lots are located on Central Avenue near the main entrance and on the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and James Street. Family members visiting patients who have been hospitalized more than seven consecutive days are eligible for a reduced rate of $2 per day. Parking for outpatients is also charged at a reduced rate of $2. Free parking is provided for clergy, same-day surgery patients, pre-admission testing patients, and state and local government representatives on official business. Anyone who has lost his or her parking ticket may be charged the full price of $6. Validation of parking tickets is available at the Parking Services manager’s office or can be done by the security guard in the lobby.

Public Transportation
Saint Michael’s Medical Center is accessible via NJ Transit and Light Rail. For a listing of transit routes, please visit the link below.

http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=TripPlannerTo

Smoke-Free Hospital Policy
For everyone’s health, as well as in keeping with standards set forth by regulatory agencies, Saint Michael’s Medical Center is a smoke-free facility. Smoking is prohibited throughout the campus; visitors may use designated areas outside the buildings.

Cafe
Visitors are welcome to dine in the hospital cafe located near the main lobby on the second level. Cold and hot sandwiches, personal pizzas, salads, desserts, and snacks are available. The cafe is open seven days a week, from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.


Chapel
The Chapel is always open for patients, visitors, and associates. It is a place of scripture, worship and prayer from which comfort, grace and blessing flow into the halls and rooms of Saint Michael’s Medical Center. Mass is celebrated daily and on special holidays.

Gift Shop
A gift shop is located near the main lobby on the second level. The gift shop offers cards, candies, gifts, newspapers and coffee. It is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Cell Phones
Saint Michael’s Medical Center needs your cooperation in providing a safe environment for all patients and employees by reducing the risk of wireless communication devices interfering with or disrupting the function of life support, diagnostic, and therapeutic treatment devices. We do wish to permit family members and visitors the convenience of this communication under controlled circumstances. The use of wireless communication is prohibited in critical areas that are dependent on monitoring for life support devices and locations where patients are receiving therapy. Critical areas include operating rooms, intensive care units, cardiovascular units, cardiac cath laboratories, emergency departments, imaging, hemodialysis areas, and any area where patients receive invasive procedures. Wireless devices should not be used within 10 feet of medical equipment. Wireless devices may be used in the cafeteria, stairways, lobbies, conference rooms, and on the hospital grounds.

When in doubt, please consult a Saint Michael’s associate.

ATM
An ATM machine is conveniently located in the main lobby of the hospital, immediately to your left as you pass through the entrance.