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Critical Care Family Information at Covenant Health

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Critical Care Lounge

Family and friends can wait in the Critical Care Lounge during surgery and while the patient is in Critical Care. It is here that you will receive surgical updates from a registered nurse in the intensive care unit.

Families should always check in at the front desk with the Critical Care Lounge receptionist. Please leave a phone number where you can be contacted. The receptionist will let you know about staying overnight in the waiting room.

A nurse with a tablet comforts a woman in the waiting room

Critical Care Lounge Guidelines

Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to visit in the critical care unit. This is for the child’s protection as much as the patient’s protection.

Because our space is limited, we ask that families limit long-term and overnight stays to two people per patient

General Visiting Hours

Fort Sanders Regional

General visiting hours at Fort Sanders Regional are 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Visiting hours for the Cardiovascular ICU are:

9:15 a.m. – 10 a.m.

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

4:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.

9 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Methodist Medical Center

General visiting hours at Methodist Medical Center are 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Visiting hours for the Critical Care Units are:

10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

1  p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.

8:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Parkwest Medical Center

General visiting hours at Parkwest Medical Center are 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Visiting hours for the Critical Care Units are:

8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.

10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.

12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m.

2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.

5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.

8:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

10:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.

The welfare and recovery of our patients is our top priority. We ask that guests provide special courtesy and sensitivity in scheduling visits.

For more information, contact your hospital’s Critical Care Lounge or Waiting Room at:

Fort Sanders Regional (865) 541-1683

Methodist (865) 835-4178

Parkwest (865) 373-1557

Surgery Updates

Patient status updates will be given when surgery begins, when advancements are made, and again when the surgery is almost over. These updates are not based on a timed schedule.

Please note: family wait time may seem long. Operations take several hours and every surgery is different. Time is needed to prepare and complete the procedure in addition to transporting and settling the patient in the intensive care unit. 

The surgeon will let you know how the procedure went and exactly what was done once the surgery is complete.

a behavioral health nurse in blue scrubs smiles and talks to an elderly african-american female patient

Visiting for the First Time

Open heart patients are recovered in the intensive care unit by a specialized team of nurses.

The first visit with a loved one after surgery will be limited to about 10-15 minutes, as this is still a very critical time. Visits will then be coordinated on a specific schedule, depending on stability of vital signs or procedures.

The first visit can sometimes be a little scary for family and friends. You can touch and hold the patient’s hand gently. 

Expect your loved one immediately after surgery to:

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