Patients and Visitors
People are amazing — we help keep them that way.
In Marshalltown, we offer so much more than exceptional healthcare. We also provide patients and visitors with the comforts of home, the convenience you need and helpful, compassionate service.
With those things in mind, we’ve put together some useful information to help support and care for our patients, their family members and visitors. If you don't find the information you're looking for here, our hospital volunteers or staff members will be glad to help you.
Visitor & Mask/Face Covering Guidelines
As we move forward to transition into a new phase of delivering safe care alongside COVID-19, our masking guidelines will be aligned with local community transmission levels.
Levels may be Low/Moderate, Substantial or High.
Current COVID-19 community transmission level: MODERATE
If you have an appointment or are visiting a patient at a UnityPoint Health location, please follow these guidelines:
- All visitors/support people must be in good health. Please follow the self-screening guidelines provided upon entry.
- Anyone who has recently been exposed, is symptomatic, or has tested positive for COVID-19 should not visit until they have met the CDC's guidance for discontinuation of isolation.
- Masking is optional at all area UnityPoint Health facilities for most patients, visitors and fully vaccinated team members. Please note: If/when community levels change, we will appropriately amend the masking requirement.
- Patients, visitors or team members who would like to continue wearing masks are encouraged to do so.
- Individuals who should continue to mask, regardless of community transmission levels, include:
- Unvaccinated team members
- Patients, visitors and team members who have had a known COVID-19 exposure or have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days
We appreciate your understanding during these uncertain times. Our goal is to protect our patients, team members and the community.
All ages allowed: children 2+ must wear masks
- There are no visitor limits for inpatients with the exception of:
- Ambulatory Surgery: 2 visitors per stay allowed
- Emergency Department: only 2 visitors allowed per patient
- Outpatient Services / Clinics: only 1 visitor allowed per patient; children may also accompany parents
- Patients in isolation for COVID-19: no restrictions for inpatients.
- Individual departments may have more specific guidelines based on their patient population
- Visitors must follow Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) instructions as per any isolation guidelines:
- If PPE supplies become an issue or overall COVID-19 patient levels change in a manner that is concerning, visits to patients in any type of isolation may be suspended.
- Religious visitations by clergy, Eucharistic ministers and other faith-based leaders are allowed. These visitors are subject to screening for illness upon entry, required to wear a mask and perform hand hygiene according to hospital policy.
- Visiting hours: It is recommended that patients be visited between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. to assure they get needed rest. After 7 p.m., all visitors are asked to use the emergency department entrance.
- Visitors are reminded to wash and sanitize their hands upon entering and exiting a patient's room.
- UnityPoint Health team members have the right to request individuals who do not meet restriction criteria to leave the premises.
Adult Appointments
- One support person allowed per patient, if needed
Pediatric Appointments
- Both parents or guardians may be present, no siblings
All visitors or support people must be in good health (no fever, runny nose or cough in the last seven days).
- Visitors must be dressed appropriately and must wear shirt and shoes
- Visitors should maintain a quiet environment and avoid unnecessary noise
- People with colds, sore throats or any contagious disease should not visit patients
- Visits should be kept short
- Visitors may be asked to leave the room during tests or treatments or when the physician or nurse needs to see the patient
Visitors can be good medicine for patients, and family members and friends are welcome to visit. However, a patient's care and well-being are our primary concerns at Marshalltown Hospital.
To enhance the quality of care, specific hours have been established. Visiting hours for most hospital units are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
There are specially designated lounge areas for visitors on each patient floor, including the emergency department and main lobby.
A volunteer is on duty in the main lobby during regular business hours Monday through Friday. These volunteers are available to assist families waiting in the lobby area during their family member's surgery.
The volunteer on duty keeps family members informed about the progress of the surgery and the patient's condition.
Hospital Amenities & Services
The hospital's cafeteria is typically open for visitors and staff dining, and it's located on the main level, between the emergency department and the main entrance.
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. (6-7 p.m. badge access for employees only)
- Breakfast: 7 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
- Traditional breakfast items, made-to-order omelets, oatmeal, etc.
- Lunch: 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Deli station with specialty sandwiches
- Grill station with made-to-order items
- Grab-n-go with fresh-made salads, sandwiches, heat-and-eat meals and more
- Salad bar – self-serve with fresh ingredients, plus seasonal salads such as potato salad, pasta salad, etc.
- Beverages, snacks, desserts
- Breaks: 9:45-10:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Monday – Sunday (Dinner)
- Guests and employees are welcome to use our Room Service menu. To order, dial the seven-digit number 104-1600. Meals are typically delivered within 30-45 minutes.
Weekends and Holidays (Lunch)
- Lunch: 11:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Connect to the "UnityPoint Guest" network (if you have issues, make sure "DHCP" is enabled), then open your web browser.
Enjoy – with no passwords, fees or limits!
Your Stay
Your room in our new, state-of-the-art hospital is designed with your comforts in mind. Each room has a spacious bathroom, a television and telephone.
A handheld nurse call light is located at your bedside and in each restroom. When pushed, your call is acknowledged, and your nurse is notified. You may also control your room lighting and television from your bed. Ask your nurse to show you how to use the controls.
Showers are available, your nurse will assist you when medically able to go to the shower. Nurses will offer a comfort bath to all patients daily.
Your bed is electrically operated and can be controlled from the buttons on the side rails.
Choose your daily meals from a menu distributed on your breakfast tray. If you have special dietary needs, one of our dietitians may visit during your stay to assist with nutritional care.
To order from your menu, simply circle the items for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Please remember these selections are for the following day. You may leave your completed menu on your tray, or a member of the dietary staff will stop by and collect it in the afternoon. Please note your menu selections may be changed due to diet restrictions ordered by your physicians.
If you desire menu choices not offered on the selective menu, we'd be happy to offer you our "Or You May Prefer" menu, which contains a variety of traditional favorites available every day. Ask a member of the food service team for a copy of this menu.
Guest Meals
Your family members or friends may wish to dine with you bedside. A daily menu is offered at a nominal cost. Check with your nurse to make an order.
Do not keep medications at your bedside, including over-the-counter products. (There may be exceptions to this, ask your nurse for clarification). For safety, we encourage you to send any medications home with your family. If this is not possible, your nurse will store your medications, prescribed and otherwise, in a locked container outside your room. When you are released from the hospital, your nurse will review discharge instructions for medications with you.
Make sure your doctors know about every medicine you are taking (including herbal supplements and over-the-counter medications). Inform hospital staff of any allergies and adverse reactions you have to medicines. Ask for information about your medicines in terms you can understand before you receive them. Also, ask your nurse immediately if you have questions about the medications you're given.
Connect to the "UnityPoint Guest" network (if you have issues, make sure "DHCP" is enabled), then open your web browser.
Enjoy – with no passwords, fees or limits!
Your Safety
In Marshalltown, our goal is to make your hospital stay as safe and pleasant as possible. To meet this goal, we have developed a fall prevention program that includes identification of patients at risk for falls and steps to prevent falls.
Patients who have certain illnesses, physical limitations, weaknesses or other medical conditions that increase the risk of falls will be identified. This alerts the staff involved in your care throughout the hospital that you are at risk to fall.
- We need your help to safeguard you and your family member against falls. Please follow these guidelines while you are in the hospital.
- Ask the nurse or physical therapist if you can be out of bed up to the bathroom alone and follow their instructions.
- Ask for help before getting out of bed if you feel dizzy, weak or if you need help managing your IV poles or other equipment.
- Tell the doctor or nursing staff if you have a history of falls.
- Wear non-skid slippers when getting out of bed, if you do not have any, ask the nursing staff to get a pair for you.
- Keep your bedside free of clutter and items on the floor.
- Use the call light in the bathroom if you need assistance getting back to bed.
- Notify nursing staff if a spill occurs on the floor.
- Ask to have objects such as bedside tables, phone and call lights within easy reach if you are not able to be up.
- If you require glasses or wear hearing aides, please use them.
We are here to help you in all aspects of your care, including your personal care needs. Please call us if you need help with anything.
Our staff is committed to making the patient care environment safe and as pleasant as possible for our patients. Be sure to ask the staff questions if you have them. Asking questions and speaking up makes patient care safer for everyone.
A patient's safety is a priority at UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown. Physicians, nurses, therapists, other caregivers and volunteers will work to provide safe care while you are here and to protect you against accidental injury. We encourage all patients and families to help create a safe environment and offer suggestions that could protect patients.
The single most important way you can help is to be an active member of your health care team. Our patients and families are encouraged to SPEAK UP if there are questions or concerns.
- Notice the medications you are given and ask for information about them
- Ask all healthcare workers who have contact with you if they have washed their hands or used a hand disinfectant
- Find out why tests and treatments are needed – and what the results are
- Follow the instructions given to you by caregivers
- There is no smoking within the hospital
- No matches or lighters are allowed in your room
