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Visitor Information
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Driving Directions |
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Hospital Directory |
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Transportation |
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Information Desk |
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The Information Desk, located on the first floor in the main lobby of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can obtain information on such topics as the location of offices and services, location of inpatients (who have provided consent), where to register for health care services, and how to get to the regional office. |
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Security |
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For general VA police assistance, please dial 713.794.7106 or ext. 7106. In case of an emergency, dial 911. Because the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is a federal facility, all persons and bags are subject to search. In addition, no weapons, alcohol, or illegal drugs are permitted on VA grounds. All Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center employees and volunteers are required to wear their employee identification at all times when on VA grounds. Always report a suspicious looking person, package, or device. Never touch a suspicious looking package or device. Report suspicious activity or persons immediately to the VA Police. All donations (books, magazines, clothing, etc.) must be delivered directly to the Volunteer Office, Room 2A-104. Boxes or bags left at the Information Desk or in the Main Lobby will be considered a security risk and destroyed. Do not leave any articles of value in plain view or unattended in your vehicle, (e.g. cell phones, laptops, money, wallets, purses, GPS systems), even if it is locked. Put them somewhere out of sight or take them with you. Lock all doors and roll up all windows. |
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Parking |
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Parking on VA grounds is restricted to Veterans, family members, volunteers, employees, and visitors. All others will be ticketed or towed. Restricted parking areas include curbs painted with either yellow or red paint, and areas marked with signs prohibiting or limiting parking.
Free valet parking is available at the main entrance for our Veterans. This service operates Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., except for federal holidays. Veterans using the valet parking are greeted by a uniformed, valet-parking attendant when they pull up to the valet parking area at the main entrance. Veterans are asked to present their VA I.D. card and/or their appointment letter to the attendant. The attendant will then ask the driver how long he or she expects to stay at the MEDVAMC. Next, the attendant gives the driver a claim check and parks the car in a parking space based on the length of stay, or directs the driver to a spot for self-parking. All attendant-parked vehicles are locked and the keys are appropriately secured. All the parking attendants are in uniform and hold a valid Texas driver’s license. When customers return, they hand over their claim tickets and are given the option of having the valet parking attendant deliver their vehicle or retrieving it themselves. After 6:30 p.m., parking attendants turn over the keys of any vehicles still on the premises to the VA Police Service. Owners of these vehicles are able to pick up their keys at the VA Police Service at the main entrance.
Handicapped persons may be dropped off at the main entrance, and the attendant will park the car or direct the driver to handicap parking. Parking attendants also assist parking patrons by removing wheelchairs and carts from their automobiles. Tipping valet attendants is strictly prohibited. Drivers with buses or large vans, who wish to park their own vehicles, are directed to a designated area by a parking attendant. Veteran Service Organization vans are able to drop off and pick up patients at the main entrance, and are directed to a designated area if they wish to park.
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Lost and Found |
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All articles classified as lost and found are forwarded to the Patient’s Clothing Room, Room BA-203, at the end of each workday. Individuals searching for any lost item should report to Room BA-203, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
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Religious Services |
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Chaplains are on duty from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Chaplains are available for crisis ministry 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To assure prompt response to your needs for a pastoral visit or consultation, indicate your request to the nurse or clerk on your nursing unit. The message will be promptly delivered to the chaplain. The Chapel, located on the second floor, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Protestant services are offered on Sundays at 9 a.m. Roman Catholic Mass is offered Monday through Saturday at 11 a.m. Sunday Mass is held at 10 a.m., with an “anticipatory mass” on Saturday at 4 p.m. All services may be viewed on television Channel 37 in patient rooms. |
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Visiting Hours |
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Send a Card or Gift to a Patient |
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Volunteering and Donations |
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Smoking |
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Smoking at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is only allowed in designated smoking areas. |
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Canteen Services |
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The Veterans Canteen Service is located on the first floor near the main entrance of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. The Canteen Service consists of a Retail Store, Cafeteria, Papa’s Best Pizza, Vending Services, and a Barber Shop. The Retail Store has a wide selection of retail merchandise to include health and beauty aids, candy and snacks, men and ladies clothing, gift items, greeting cards, electronic products, and long distance telephone calling cards. The Canteen Cafeteria serving line is open for breakfast and lunch. Also available in the Cafeteria is a deli, grill, salad bar, and assorted dessert and snack items. The Canteen Main Vending Room, located on the first floor, Room 1A-660, is open 24 hours a day. There are also snack and soda machines located near each Nursing Unit. |
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Conduct and Behavior |
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Please be considerate of others and help us maintain a quiet atmosphere. Regulations do not permit the use of loud, abusive, or profane language; loud music or televisions; gambling, soliciting, bartering, or panhandling; or the sale, use, or possession of intoxicants or unauthorized drugs. If you should observe such misconduct by anyone, please report it immediately to a unit nurse or the VA Police. |
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