Patients & Visitors
At Lutheran Hospital, we understand that coming to the hospital as a patient or as a loved one's support person can be a difficult, often overwhelming experience. Whether you're preparing for a hospital stay or stopping by to see friends and family, knowing where to go and what to bring will help make your visit less stressful. To make your experience easier, we want to provide you with helpful information you may need to plan your visit, such as what to expect, parking instructions, transportation and more.
Lutheran Hospital offers ample parking, including:
- A large lot near the main entrance and emergency department
- Parking garages to the left (south parking garage) and right (north parking garage) as you enter the campus from West Jefferson Blvd.
- A large lot at the rear of the hospital near the Heart Pavilion entrance
Free valet parking is available Monday through Friday as follows:
After hours, keys can be retrieved from the security desk located in the emergency department.
Review the campus map
While Lutheran Hospital has open visiting hours, patients also require rest to help with healing and recovery.
Latex balloons are not permitted inside Lutheran Hospital. This is for the protection of all patients and relates to a common allergy. Mylar balloons are permitted. Most area florists and gift shops are aware of this limitation.
Please check with a nurse before bringing any food or drink to a patient. Many patients are on a restricted diet, necessary for a variety of tests and procedures.
Chaplains support you and your family spiritually while in the hospital, regardless of faith or religious affiliation. Please click here for more information on pastoral care.
Smoking, e-cigarettes, vaping devices and all similar products are prohibited on Lutheran Hospital's campus. If you would like to stop smoking or quit tobacco, download this Stop Smoking resources PDF.
No firearms, weapons or alcohol of any kind are permitted.
Visiting Policies & Hours
Lutheran Hospital has open visiting hours. However, a patient's health may require nurses to limit visitors on occasion. Please review the details below, as well as posted signs outside units, and ask staff about any special circumstances.
Quiet hours are observed daily from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. - 7 a.m. During this time, the lights are dimmed and noise is kept to a minimum to help patients rest.
Guidelines:
- The number of visitors may be limited based on a patient's condition or location. Please ask when you arrive on the unit.
- Units caring for seriously ill patients may have age restrictions for visitors.
- All visitors must wash their hands before and after visiting a patient.
- Anyone with symptoms of a cold or other illness should not visit.
- Children must be supervised at all times.
- Shoes must be worn at all times.
- Visitors may be asked to move to a waiting area. If this occurs, it is for the immediate well-being of the patient.
- Smoking, as well as the use of e-cigarettes, vaping devices and other similar products, is not permitted in the facility or on the Lutheran Hospital campus.
- Firearms, weapons, alcohol and illegal drugs are prohibited on hospital premises.
- Lutheran Hospital reserves the right to remove any person from the premises if dangerous, disruptive or otherwise unacceptable behavior is displayed.
Food & Beverages
Please check with a nurse before bringing any food or drink to a patient. Many patients are on restricted diets, which may be necessary for tests and procedures.
Balloons, Fresh Flowers and Plants
Latex balloons are not allowed inside the hospital due to common latex allergies. Mylar balloons are permitted. In addition, some patients can't receive fresh fruit, flowers or live plants. Ask a staff member before delivering any of these items to a patient.
Cell Phones and Smart Phones are:
- Permitted in waiting rooms and general patient care areas
- Prohibited in critical care areas
- Prohibited within three feet of any medical equipment
Please set your phone to mute/vibrate while visiting the hospital. Use lounges and common areas for telephone conversations, rather than talking in the hallway outside a patient's room.
To reach the security department at Lutheran Hospital, call (260) 435-7265.
Lutheran Hospital has the right to remove any person from the grounds if dangerous, disruptive or otherwise unacceptable behavior is displayed.
Advance Directives
Each individual has the right to direct his or her own care. Current information about Advanced Directives and Indiana state forms can be found on the Indiana State Department of Health website.
Forms included, but not limited to, include:
- Health care representative appointment
- Life prolonging procedures declaration
- Living will declaration (English and Spanish versions)
- Out-of-hospital do not resuscitate declaration and order
Parental Consent
If you're traveling and have to leave your children in the care of someone else, be sure they're protected. Always leave written authorization so your children can receive medical treatment, if needed.
Simply download the form below, fill it out and leave it with your children's caregiver. An authorized form is valid for one year following the signature date unless the form has been withdrawn with written consent.