Hospital patience: Tips for visitors

When you visit a loved one in the hospital, your goal is to make the patient feel better. But if you're not careful, you could make things worse. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology passes along these hospital-visiting tips:

All hospital rooms have hand sanitizer, most often in wall dispensers. Use it when you arrive and before you leave to make sure you don't bring your germs into the room or take someone else's germs home with you.

Do not sit on the patient's bed or touch any equipment in the room.

Before you bring flowers or food into the room, make a call to the nurse's station to make sure the items are permitted.

If you have a cold or feel sick, stay home.

For the full list of how to be a good visitor, go to bit.ly/hospital-visitors.