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10 Must-Ask Questions for Your Hospital Tour: Advice from a Labor and Delivery Nurse

As a labor and delivery nurse and the face behind Mommy Labor Nurse , I’m all about informed and empowered births. Birth is my thing, and I just love helping mamas have a better birth experience.

Today I want to talk about one pretty straightforward and FREE thing you can do to make that a reality. A hospital tour!

Seriously. Making the time to go on a tour of the hospital where you plan to deliver erases so many unknowns about birth. From knowing where to park and finding the L&D unit BEFORE you’re actually in labor to visualizing the room where you’ll meet your baby for the first time, the hospital tour is a must.

To help you get the most out of your hospital tour, I put together this list of 10 must-ask questions. Have any other ideas for questions to ask on your hospital tour? Post them in the comments!

What kinds of questions should you ask on your hospital tour?

You’ll notice that these questions are all hospital related. Meaning, I didn’t include questions about birth that are better suited for your provider . You know, like, “Can I eat during labor?” or “How often do you check dilation?”

Why? Well, often the people giving hospital tours are volunteers or childbirth educators who may not know birth-specific policies and recommendations. They also might give you misinformation, which is the last thing I want for you!

So try to keep your questions hospital related, like the ones below. And remember, you can’t ask too many questions! A friend of mine recounted that her husband asked if the TVs had an HDMI jack for their hard drive. So, yeah. They’ve literally heard it all .

10 questions to ask on your hospital tour

• How many visitors are allowed in the labor room? What about if I have a C-section ?
• Will I have access to a tub/shower? What is your policy on this?
• Is there a waiting room policy? How far is the waiting room?
• Will I ever have to share a room with anyone or are all the rooms private?
• Is there a cafeteria for visitors? What are the hours?
• How do I, as the patient, order food? Are there restrictions/hours?
• Is there pre-registration paperwork that I need to complete before I come?
• Will I be in the labor room for my entire stay, or will I change rooms?
• Where is the best place to park? Do you have to pay for parking?
• How should I enter the hospital? Is there a different entrance for overnight hours?

What if I can’t go on a tour because of COVID-19?

Your whole pregnancy is likely looking a lot different from what you expected —with limited in-person appointments for low-risk pregnancies, no in-person birth classes, and more.

And I know that this is hard and scary. Birth is already full of unknowns, and the pandemic has really upped the ante.

The good news is that we DO live in an era with amazing technology, and more and more hospitals are offering virtual tours of their labor and delivery units. Some have them pre-recorded, and some are even doing live virtual walk-throughs!

Reach out to your provider to find out what options are available to you. Getting to see where you’re giving birth is SO important. And it’s something you actually can control in these uncertain times.

Specific to birthing during COVID-19, here are some other hospital-related questions to ask, whether it’s on your virtual tour or at your next office or telehealth visit:

• Can I have a support person with me during labor?
• Can I have more than one support person (e.g., a doula and my partner)? (In most cases, this is a no, but it’s worth asking!)
• How long after birth can my support person stay? Is the rule different for C-sections vs. vaginal births?
• What safety protocols will my birth partner need to adhere to (e.g., temperature checks, mask-wearing , not leaving the room once they are there)?
• Are there limitations on certain labor coping strategies and mechanisms? (Many hospitals have suspended the use of nitrous oxide and do not allow birthing mamas to walk the halls.)
• Are there limitations on things related to hospital food, takeout food, or packing my own food due to COVID-19?
• What other hospital safety protocols should I be aware of?

Don’t stop at a hospital tour, Mama. You can take your virtual preparedness a step further! You don’t have to miss out on things like childbirth education , prenatal fitness , and newborn-care classes just because they aren’t in person right now. Many of these classes are available online in an e-learning format.

What’s more, you can use online forums, Facebook groups , and even Instagram to connect with mamas who are due around the same time as you and facing the same unique challenges of birthing during the pandemic.

Check the hospital tour off of your pre-birth to-do list!

The bottom line? Don’t skip the tour ! A lot of women don’t realize just how helpful a simple hospital tour can be until they do it. It’s like a weight is lifted. Visualization is powerful, and seeing where this is all going to go down WILL help. Use these questions as your guide and take this important step toward rocking your birth.

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Questions to Ask on a Hospital Tour for Birth

When we think about having a baby very few of us think much past choosing the practitioner who will help us when labor comes. Once you've chosen a doctor or midwife, it often seems that they will tell you where their preference is to give birth. Some women may have an option to choose from one or more places, while others have only one option. Either way, it's important to ask questions or interview the place you've chosen or perhaps will choose to give birth.

The questions you ask should be tailored towards your needs, and should always serve the purpose of opening up the lines of communications between you and your birth team. Some of the answers might be dependent upon your practitioner, while other policies will be determined by the hospital or birth center. These policies can have a serious impact on how you labor or give birth, including your postpartum stay.

Here are some questions to help get you started in formulating what you need to ask at your place of birth:

Labor and Birth

• Do you offer any type of childbirth classes ? Who teaches them? What is the cost? Do you have specialty classes?
• Where do I go when it's time for labor? Is there a different place at night?
• What paperwork needs to be completed prior to admission for labor? Is there other paperwork to be done? Can it be done prior to labor?
• What will I need to bring with me when I'm in labor? Will my chart be sent over or will I need to hand-carry it?
• Do you have a triage system? How long does one usually stay in triage?
• What types of birthing rooms are available? Can I labor, give birth and recover in one room?
• What types of comfort measures do you encourage? Is there a tub or shower in the birth room ? Do you have access to birth balls, music, squat bar, etc.?
• What type of food or drink is allowed? Is there a kitchen area for myself or my family? Am I allowed to bring food or drink from home? Do you provide clear liquids like popsicles, broth, Jell-o®, etc?
• Are IVs required? What about a saline lock to provide access to my veins instead? Who would make this provision if it's not a standard policy?
• What type of medications are available? Should I choose medication? What IV medications are used? Do you offer epidural anesthesia ? Is there a special class to take for the epidural? Do you have anesthesiologists who only do obstetrical anesthesia? Do you have 24-hour anesthesia available on site? Can I have a pre-labor consult with the anesthesia group if I have special concerns?
• Do you have visitor policies in labor ? Do you have policies about siblings?
• Are cameras and film equipment allowed? Are there any parts for which we should turn it off?
• What type of fetal monitoring do you offer? External? Internal? Doppler/fetoscope? What are the hospital policies on monitoring in labor?
• How often do you experience an overflow of patients? What happens if all of your birthing rooms are taken?
• Do you utilize students or residents in any way?
• What is your hospital's induction rate? How many patients receive augmentation in labor? What is your episiotomy rate? Epidural rate? Forceps/vacuum rates? Cesarean rates? VBAC rate?
• Do you have doulas on staff? Do you have a listing of doulas?
• To whom should I send my birth plan? Does it need to be signed by my doctor or midwife? My pediatrician?

Cesarean Birth

• Can my partner stay with me for a cesarean birth ? My doula?
• Can we have photos of the birth?
• Will I be able to watch the surgery via mirror? Could the drapes be lowered? Or do you offer clear drapes?
• What is the policy about pre-operative medications? Postoperative pain relief?
• Will my baby be able to go immediately skin to skin after the birth?
• Will the baby be available to me during the surgery time? In the recovery room? When can I begin nursing?
• If the cesarean is planned, what is the admission procedure?
• Will my partner be able to go with the baby, should s/he need to leave the room?
• Will I have the same room postpartum that I did for labor and birth?
• Are all your postpartum rooms private? Will I ever be moved from my room?
• Do the rooms have showers or tubs? What about sitz baths?
• Can members of my family stay overnight? Is there an extra charge for this?
• What pain relief options are available postpartum? Does that differ if you've had a cesarean birth? What about nursing moms?
• What is the average length of stay for a vaginal birth? A cesarean birth?
• Is there a policy for early discharge?
• What is your policy on rooming in? Are there times that the baby cannot be in our room?
• Do pediatricians do their visits at the bedside? When would this not be appropriate?
• Do you have a lactation consultant? Is she available seven days a week? What are her hours? Does she see every nursing mom? Is she certified?
• What are the policies about breastfeeding babies and bottles/pacifiers?
• What are their sibling visitation policies?

By Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH is a professor, author, childbirth and postpartum educator, certified doula, and lactation counselor.

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Hospital Tour Questions: The Must Asks

By Cake Maternity

Nov 23, 2021

IN THIS ARTICLE

Questions About the Labour and Birth

Questions for a caesarean birth, questions for the postpartum period in hospital, questions on baby care.

The time has finally come for you and your partner to start a family. Having a baby is one of life’s most important events, one you will never, ever forget. It is important to go into labour, birth and the postnatal period empowered and confident!

If you’ve decided to have a baby in a hospital, you’ve probably also thought about whether you want to have a private birth with an obstetrician or a public birth with a midwife. You’ve been daydreaming about how you’re going to decorate the nursery, what your baby will look like and baby names , but have you thought about doing a hospital tour?

Often hospital tours are overlooked by expectant parents but they can be a wealth of knowledge and an opportunity for you to ask questions to assist in preparing for your baby’s birth. During the hospital tour, you will visit the birth unit and postnatal ward, allowing you and your partner to familiarise yourselves with the space so when the big day arrives, it won’t be so daunting for you both.

We have compiled a comprehensive list of questions to ask during your hospital tour and to assist you in welcoming your baby into the world.

• When should I call the hospital? Who do I call when I think I’m in labour? What should I pack in my bag to bring to hospital?
• Is the hospital entry open 24 hours per day? Do I have to go through emergency when I attend in labour?
• Are all the rooms in the birth unit the same size? Does each birth room have its own bathroom? Can my partner use the bathroom in the birth room?
• Are there bathtubs available in every room for a water birth and/or to assist with pain relief? Can you explain why I may not be able to have a water birth?
• Does the hospital offer childbirth classes? What days of the week are they on? How much do they cost? Can my partner attend the childbirth classes as well?
• What pain relief options are available for labour? When can I ask for pain relief?
• Will I have the same care provider throughout labour? Is this a learning hospital, do I have to have a student present throughout my labour and birth?
• If I need perineal stitches, who will do the repair? Am I given any pain relief for the perineal stitches?
• How many support people can I have in the room while I am in labour? Can I have my other children at the birth of my baby? 
• Will any procedures be performed on me without my consent? Will all procedures be explained to my partner and I prior to performing them?
• I would like to have an active birth, what aids do you have available in the birth rooms to assist with this? Do I need to bring a birthing ball, birthing stool, aromatherapy oils, TENS machine, music, etc?
• Can I eat and drink during labour? Can I bring my own food into the hospital while I am in labour? Can we order takeaway while I am in labour?
• How often do you check on the progress of labour? Do you use other methods other than vaginal examinations?
• Do we have to pay for parking when I’m in hospital? How much does it cost? Can we get a concession ticket due to the length of our stay?
• Can I choose to have a Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC)?
• How long do we stay in the birth room after the baby is born? Will we move to another ward?
• Can we go home straight from the birth unit? How long do we have to stay after the birth? What procedures are involved before going home?
• If I have a baby in a public hospital, will I be out of pocket for any costs?
• If I’m a private patient in a public hospital, will I be assured of a private room?
• Am I allowed to film the birth and take photos during labour and birth?
• Can I use a birth plan to assist me during labour? Who do I give the birth plan to?

• Can I choose to have an elective Caesarean section in a public/private hospital?
• Can I choose my doctor if I need a Caesarean section?
• Will I have an opportunity to have skin to skin with my baby if I have a Caesarean section? Can I breastfeed my baby straight after the Caesarean section?
• Can my partner stay with the baby after the Caesarean section? Where will they go once they leave the theatre room? How long will I be separated from my baby?
• What is the caesarean rate in this hospital?
• If I need an emergency Caesarean section, can my partner stay with me throughout the procedure?
• If my baby requires feeding before we are together, can my baby have my expressed breast milk? Where can we store the milk whilst I’m in labour?
• If I don’t want any of my visitors to meet my baby before I do, who do I speak to about this?
• What can I expect from the recovery period after a Caesarean section? Can a Caesarean section affect my milk supply?
• Are there private rooms available? Does each room have its own bathroom? What does it cost to have a private room in a public hospital? What does it cost to have a private room in a private hospital? Is this covered by Medicare or private health insurance?
• As a private patient in a public hospital, are we guaranteed a private room?
• How long is the hospital stay for a vaginal birth and a caesarean birth?
• How long after the birth will I move to the postnatal ward?
• What pain relief is available after birth?
• Does a paediatrician assess my baby before we are discharged from hospital?
• What is the follow up care once we go home from hospital?
• If I choose to formula feed my baby, do I need to bring my own formula, bottles and sterilisation equipment?
• Can my family bring food from home into the postnatal ward? Do you have facilities to enable this? E.g. fridge for storing food and a microwave for heating food.
• Is there free wifi in the hospital? Are there televisions in all the rooms?
• What is your visiting policy on the postnatal ward? Can children visit at any time?
• Can I bring my own medication to hospital with me and take it when I please?
• What are some reasons why I may not be able to go home after a standard visit?

• Can my partner stay with me overnight in the hospital? Can my children stay with me in hospital? How many support people can I have stay overnight? What sleeping facilities are available for my partner?
• Will the staff show me how to bath my baby?
• Will the midwives teach me how to breastfeed ? Do you have a lactation consultant available 24 hours a day?
• Are there any classes we can attend after the baby is born? E.g. to teach mother crafting skills, postnatal physiotherapy classes, breastfeeding classes.
• If my baby needs to go into a Newborn Care facility, what are the rooming in and visiting policies? Where is it located? Will a staff member assist me to the unit if I can’t walk on my own?
• Will any procedures be performed on my baby without my consent?
• If I express breastmilk, is there somewhere safe to store it in the hospital? Do I need to bring my own breastmilk pump and bottles?
• Do I need to bring clothes and blankets for my baby? What size clothes should I buy for a newborn baby?
• Does the baby sleep in my room with me? How do I let the midwives know I need help?
• Will the midwives bath my baby and change my baby’s nappies? Will the midwives feed my baby if I’m feeling too tired to do it?

Preparation is key to a successful birth, asking appropriate questions will allow you and your partner to be ready for your hospital visit when the big day arrives. Reflect on these questions before your hospital tour, they may even prompt you to think of more questions to ask your care provider. Whatever you make time for during your pregnancy, make time for the hospital tour and take on the birth of your baby with certainty and confidence!

About the author:

Marney Atkins-Smith is an Australian Registered Midwife who obtained her Bachelor of Midwifery at Western Sydney University. Marney loves taking care of women throughout the perinatal period and has a passion for educating and empowering mums and dads throughout their postnatal experience, giving them the knowledge and information they need to become confident parents.

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Maternity Hospital Tour: 20 Critical Questions To Ask [2023]

By: Author Doug Penta MD OB/GYN

Categories PREGNANCY

Updated October 25, 2023

A question that is very often asked by pregnant women is “Is it necessary to take a hospital tour before my delivery?”

Why should you take a maternity hospital tour? Simple, you want to know what to expect when you are in labor.

It is normal to be nervous about what happens during labor and delivery. If you have never stayed in a hospital the experience can be intimidating.

One way to relieve your concerns is to take a pregnancy hospital tour or a tour of the birth center where you plan to deliver.

Most Pregnancy hospital tours take about an hour and are very informative.

Just knowing where to go when you get to the hospital in labor makes the tour worth the time.

A hospital tour is not a substitute for a childbirth class .

Yes, you really do need to take one of those too.

Table of Contents

Update for 2023: COVID-19 and Pregnancy

COVID-19 is an illness caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. You’ll want to ask your doctor any questions you have about COVID-19 and your specific risk factors at your next visit.

For the very latest on COVID-19 and pregnancy, you should visit the CDC at the link below:

Coronavirus Disease 2023 (COVID-19) Based on what we know at this time, pregnant people might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people. Additionally, there may be an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, among pregnant people with COVID-19.

20 Questions To Ask On Your Maternity Hospital Tour:

1. is there a newborn intensive care unit (nicu) what floor is it located on is it easy to access from the postpartum rooms.

Whether or not a hospital has a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), may determine what facility you choose for your delivery.

One reason may simply be that you want to deliver at a facility that has a NICU within the facility to avoid transport time from another hospital.

Another reason might be because your pregnancy is deemed high-risk for maternal reasons (twins, toxemia, gestational diabetes, premature labor, etc.) or high-risk due to neonatal concerns identified during your prenatal care (fetal cardiac malformations, fetal diaphragmatic hernias, intrauterine growth restriction, etc.).

If this is a question on your mind, become familiar with the levels of nursery care prior to your visit:

• Well Newborn Care –  Level 1
• Special Care Nursery –  Level 2 
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit –  Level 3
• Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Regional NICU) –  Level 4

For more details about NICU nurseries, click HERE

2. What hospital entrance do I use when I arrive in labor?

When labor begins, most parents (particularly first-time parents) will want to have the hospital trip well-rehearsed.

You want to assume you will not have the time to think clearly about anything other than getting to the hospital quickly and safely.

Preparing for the onset of labor is crucial and you should focus only on the most fundamental details.

Don’t complicate matters. Knowing where the hospital entrance is, is no exception.

Hospitals are large facilities with multiple entrances and in the midst of active labor, finding the labor and delivery entrance can become a daunting task, especially at 2:00 in the morning.

During your maternity hospital tour, ask where the entrance is to labor and delivery.

Make a dry run to the hospital to determine the best route.

3. What are the pain management options available? Is there always an anesthesiologist present at the hospital?

The individual in charge of the maternity hospital tour could be a labor and delivery nurse or a non-clinical hospital employee.

Pain management options for labor can best be addressed by your personal healthcare provider.

However, regarding access to pain management (anesthesia coverage) in the hospital, there is one question you will want to ask.

Is there an anesthesiologist in the hospital 24/7 and if not, what is the labor and delivery coverage arrangement?

4. Does the hospital offer wireless fetal monitoring?

Fetal monitoring during labor is used to confine laboring patients to their beds.

Laboring patients using standard electronic fetal monitoring needed to remain at bed rest because the monitor requires a direct connection of the FHR and contraction transducers to the bedside monitor.

Wireless fetal monitoring has been an option for many years.

However, it may not be available at every hospital so it is best to ask when you tour the labor and delivery floor.

Your maternity hospital tour and your childbirth class should both discuss fetal monitoring, but if you have questions about wireless monitoring during your tour is a good time to ask.

Wireless monitoring, also known as Telemetry monitoring uses a transmitter that is attached to the patient’s thigh and the wireless signal is recorded at the central nursing station in labor and delivery.

Telemetry monitoring allows patients to be monitored while walking around the hospital floor.

Since it is often encouraged to ambulate during early labor this type of monitoring was introduced so laboring patients did not have to remain on bed rest throughout their labor.

Though wireless monitoring has been around for many years, it was not used very often.

This was because the signal transmission was poor.

The two most common reasons for this were:

• A poor wireless signal
• The transducer stopped picking up the FHR because activity (mother and fetus) would cause the transducer to move.

*When the signal is lost during telemetry, an alarm sounds.

Most often this required adjusting the position of the transducer. Unfortunately, this would occur often and was anxiety-provoking for the mother.

Image credit: (Maternity Comfort Solutions)

5. How many people are allowed in the delivery room?

I have seen this policy change many times within the same hospital. Ask if the hospital has a policy if it is not addressed during your maternity hospital tour.

You may want to specify this in your birth plan if you have made one.

Remember, this is your labor and your delivery. You get to decide who you want to be with you during your delivery.

You may want your spouse or partner. You may want a doula, your best friend or your mom. Maybe all of them.

This is an important question to ask on your maternity hospital tour and an important topic to discuss with your partner before your labor begins.

If your birth partner will be with you in the delivery room, it is a great idea if you have both taken a childbirth class together.

It is a really good idea if your birth partner knows how to take care of you in labor and knows how to take care of themselves!

Labor can be a long haul, it can be painful and scary at times, and often your partner may not know how to comfort you or advocate for you.

T hat is why we recommend the online course Supporting her f or birth partners! 

The class teaches your partner actionable skills and techniques they’ll need to take care of you during your labor and delivery.

The class is 2 hours long, they can take it on their phone, and on their own time. 

 6. Who do I give the birth plan to when I arrive at the hospital?

It is best to make two copies of your birth plan .

Let the triage nurse know you have a birth plan and give one copy to the nurse caring for you in labor and delivery.

Give the other copy to a family member attending your birth.

If you arrive at the hospital right before a shift change, make sure your new labor and delivery nurse has a copy of your birth plan.

Labor and delivery units are busy places as you will see on your maternity hospital tour.

It is always a good idea to check with the oncoming nurse to make sure she received your birth plan in the report from the nurse going home.

If you have not done a birth plan you might want to consider doing one and be sure to take a childbirth education class.

A recent study found that women who had a birth plan and/or took a childbirth class had a greater likelihood of having a vaginal delivery and avoiding a cesarean section.

7. If I have a c-section, who is allowed to attend the delivery?

Recently, there have been many changes to this policy.

Hospitals are trying to be more accommodating.

Keep in mind that a cesarean section is done in an operating room.

So some restrictions are mandated by the state to ensure patient safety.

Hospitals and OB/GYNs have been trying to make c-sections more family-centered and supportive.

Most facilities and doctors will allow for your partner and doula to be with you during your c-section.

You will want to discuss this with your doctor so you know what their policy is.

We would suggest you ask this question on your maternity hospital tour, in case you have an on-call doctor or if the hospital has a laborist that covers deliveries on the unit.

8. Are there lactation specialists available? Do you have a lactation consultant on staff at the hospital?

Ask if the hospital has a designated lactation consultant. They most likely do.

If you plan to breastfeed it is good to know how many lactation consultants are available.

What hours do they work?

Will they come to see you automatically or do you need to ask?

9. Does the hospital allow pacifiers and bottles in the nursery?

There are some hospitals that have new policies about pacifiers and bottles.

Ask if you are unclear about the policy.

Over 500 hospitals in the US now have the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) designation.

The BFHI program is designed to offer women the support and education they need to successfully breastfeed their newborns (Baby-Friendly USA, 2018).

If you plan to breastfeed, a BFH may be the perfect choice for you. You will receive care from providers who are specially trained to help you be successful in breastfeeding.

If you are not sure about breastfeeding, a BFH may offer you the support and confidence you need to breastfeed your new baby.

If you know you plan to formula feed and the hospital you plan to deliver at is a “baby-friendly” designated hospital, tell them your plans right away. Some hospitals may require you to bring your own formula.

The easiest option is to bring small bottles of ready-to-feed formula.

Stand your ground if pressured in any way about your choice. Your baby, your body, your choice.

If you plan to use a pacifier, be sure to bring your own in case the hospital does not provide them.

Breastfeeding isn’t always easy.

10. What security measures are there? Do people have to be buzzed in, are there security guards, and is a device placed on my baby to make sure he/she cannot leave the floor?  

Hospitals have very strict security policies.

Be sure to ask about the policy if it is not discussed.

It is exceedingly rare for a baby to be taken from the mother-baby unit of the hospital, but it is important to be sure the hospital you are going to uses a device on you and your newborn to be sure the baby can’t leave the unit with anyone else.

11. Are there specific hours for visiting? Do you allow young children to visit?

This is a common question. Ask about visiting hours and age restrictions.

In addition, you may also want to inquire about the hospital’s overnight policy.

Due to COVID-19, many hospitals are not allowing any visitors or may be limiting them.

So be sure to ask what the current policy is.

You may want to ask if your partner can stay overnight.

If possible we suggest this so you have help caring for your newborn in the hospital.

12. Does the hospital support supplementing breastfeeding with formula?

Hospitals have been implementing new policies to specifically address this issue.

It depends.

As we discussed in question 9 above, many hospitals have become or are working on becoming “Baby-Friendly” designated.

One of the standards of care under BFHI is that unless medically indicated a newborn is given nothing but breastmilk.

Having said that if you want to supplement with infant formula that is your right.

We are big believers that no woman should be bullied or guilted or shamed for her infant feeding choice.

13. Is there wireless internet access?

If WiFi is available, you may want to ask about connectivity as this can pose a problem depending on your internet provider and the device you are using.

14. Will I be in one room during my entire stay, or will I be moved to a separate postpartum floor?

Your hospital will have one of the following arrangements. ask if you have any questions:.

• Admission to Labor and Delivery after which you will be transferred to the postpartum floor
• LDR – A room for labor, delivery, and recovery after which you will be transferred to the postpartum floor
• LDRP – One room for your entire hospital stay: Labor/Delivery/Recovery/Postpartum

15. Is this a teaching hospital? Will students or residents a ttend the birth? Can I request that they not attend if I don’t feel comfortable with them there?

We love this question and feel it is an important one to explain so you can make an informed decision about whether or not you want students (medical or nursing) or residents examining you or being there for the delivery.

Teaching hospitals are often tertiary care hospitals.

These hospitals deal with complex medical and surgical interventions.

This includes the management of routine and high-risk pregnancies .

As a result, the staff that manages pregnancy (perinatal staff) and newborns (neonatal staff) can be extensive.

The following is a list of the individuals you may meet on the labor and delivery and postpartum floors of a tertiary teaching hospital.

These are in addition to your personal doctor and nurses:

• Medical Students/Nursing students
• Residents – Physicians in OB/GYN, Pediatrics, and Anesthesiology who have completed medical school and are receiving training in their respective specialties. Resident physicians range from first-year interns to chief residents.
• Fellows – Physicians who have completed their residency and are in training to become a subspecialist. In labor and delivery, the OB Fellow is training to become a perinatologist (see below).
• Obstetricians – Typically your prenatal care physician is an obstetrician/gynecologist.
• Perinatologist – Teaching hospitals will often have a perinatologist on staff. This physician manages high-risk pregnancies.
• Neonatologist – Since tertiary care hospitals have a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the hospital will have neonatologists to manage the NICU. Neonatologists are physicians who have completed a pediatric residency and a subspecialty fellowship in neonatology.
• Pediatricians – Your pediatrician will examine your newborn on the postpartum floor.
• Obstetrical Anesthesiologist – Anesthesiologist that specializes in the care of labor and delivery patients.

*This list is not all-inclusive. Since there are also primary and secondary teaching hospitals, the staff will vary depending on the level of care offered at the hospital.

You will likely not have all of these people parading in and out during your labor and delivery and postpartum stay. But it is good to know who you could possibly see.

There are always policy changes taking place in teaching hospitals, you will want to ask this question on your maternity hospital tour for clarity.

Generally, the answer is yes, you can request that students or residents not attend your birth.

You will definitely want to address this issue with your doctor so there is no confusion when you arrive at the hospital.

Some hospitals have a laborist on staff that handles the deliveries on the unit.

Be sure to ask about this on your maternity hospital tour, so you know to tell the Laborist on the unit that you do not want residents or students attending the birth.

16. What is the preregistration process?

Most often this is done through the mail before you go to the hospital.

When you arrive, the admissions office will have your file.

Confirm you are registered in the hospital system.

You want to ask this question because you don’t want to arrive at the hospital and not have your insurance and other paperwork in order.

17. What birthing equipment is provided by the hospital? ( birth ball, squat bars, showers, jetted tubs, rocking chair, birthing stool)

Hospitals vary tremendously on this topic, so it is best to ask.

For hygienic purposes, it is best to bring personal items that are portable (birth balls, etc.).

18. Where will I be evaluated when I arrive at the hospital?

Labor and delivery departments have a designated triage unit.

This is where you will initially be evaluated before being admitted to labor and delivery.

It is essential you know where the triage area is located and how to get there from the hospital entrance.

Some hospitals may want you to enter through the Emergency department.

You will be brought to Labor and Delivery from there.

19. What is the hospital’s policy about photography? (ie. cameras/video cameras during labor/delivery/c-section)?

This is a definite question you will want to ask on the maternity hospital tour.

Hospitals have different policies about photography in the delivery room.

Due to COVID-19, the facility you are giving birth at may not be allowing birth photographers on the unit.

Hiring a professional birth photographer for your labor and delivery is becoming increasingly popular.

If you are planning to have a photographer attend your delivery, find out the hospital policy about photography in labor and delivery.

Also, find out what the policy is among the providers in your medical group (not only your personal provider).

Hiring a photographer requires a great deal of planning and is costly. If this is part of your birth plan, you will want to be sure this decision goes smoothly when you are in labor.

Hospitals and providers may allow filming and photos of your labor but may not allow the filming of your actual delivery.

There are a couple of reasons for this, one, of course, is potential complications and liability issues.

The second is tied into the first, you want your medical and nursing team completely focused on helping you deliver your baby safely.

Remember to ask these questions to avoid any last-minute changes in your birth plan.

Hospitals and providers are strict about this policy and are unlikely to make an allowance for this if it has not been addressed ahead of time.

It is stressful enough when you arrive at the hospital in labor. You want to avoid any conflicts that could have been addressed during your prenatal care.

The following, are the specific questions you will want to ask the hospital and your provider:

Hospital:  (Ask these questions well before your due date and ideally before your hospital tour.)

• When are professional photographers allowed to film during your labor and delivery … Labor? Delivery? Postpartum?
• If you have a cesarean section, can the photographer come into the delivery room, and what can be filmed during the surgery?
• Will all the delivering clinicians in your medical practice, allow professional photography in labor and delivery?
• Are there any restrictions about what can be filmed? Can the delivery be filmed or only before and after delivery?
• If I have a cesarean section and the hospital allows filming of the delivery, will your colleagues allow this as well?

20. Can my baby room in with me instead of being in the nursery?

Rooming-in is becoming more the norm, but you’ll want to ask just in case the hospital your delivering at has a different policy.

Some pregnant women may have the opposite question.

They may want to know if the baby can go to the nursery.

You will want to ask because many hospitals have done away with their well-baby nurseries in favor of the baby with the mother 24/7.

As we talked about above some of that is due to hospitals becoming “baby-friendly” certified.

Baby-friendly isn’t always “brand new mom-friendly”

If this is the policy of the facility you plan to have your baby, you should strongly consider having a support person who will be with you throughout your hospital stay.

I know this can be difficult if you have other children at home or don’t have a partner.

Ask a friend, ask your mom, or hire a postpartum doula.

Be sure you have help. 

Even with an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, you will be sore and exhausted.

Your stay may only be 24 hours, but that is a very long 24 hours if you are alone with a newborn and need assistance.

If you have a C-section you will likely be in the hospital for a few days and will want to have someone there as a support person to help you take care of the baby.

You will need to rest and rooming-in policies can make that difficult for new moms, so be sure to ask about the room-in policy on your maternity hospital tour.

Other pregnancy-related posts you might find helpful:

• 5 Best Pelvic Support Belts For Pregnancy
• How To Prevent Swelling During Pregnancy
• Are Childbirth Classes Necessary?

Finally, If possible, hold your questions until the end of the maternity hospital tour since most questions will be answered during the tour.

If you get to the question and answer period and there are a lot of people and a lot of questions there are four questions we suggest you focus on :

At your maternity hospital tour, try to avoid asking questions about labor management as those are best answered by your healthcare provider.

The tour is intended to answer questions about hospital policies and help you become familiar with the layout of the facility.

Dr. Doug Penta, MD - Co-Founder of Maternity Comfort Solutions Dr. Doug Penta, is a seasoned Obstetrician and Gynecologist with over 38 years of practice, co-founded Maternity Comfort Solutions to provide evidence-based pregnancy and parenting information. A Boston University alum and former Clinical Professor at Harvard, his articles on Maternity Comfort Solutions offer expectant mothers invaluable nutritional insights.

View all posts

Sue Winters, RN - Co-Founder of Maternity Comfort Solutions Sue combines 20 years of nursing with a rich background in early childhood education. Co-founder of Maternity Comfort Solutions, her articles provide creative toddler activities and practical tips on pregnancy nutrition and baby shower planning, embodying her commitment to supporting families through early parenthood.

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How to Create a Virtual Tour for Your Hospital: A Beginner’s Guide

The past year has seen a rapid transformation in the healthcare sector. Within weeks, practices and facilities in all medical specialties went into virtual environments to accommodate their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, ten months into the pandemic and with vaccinations on the horizon, it’s time to stop the band-aid solutions and build long-term virtual experiences for your audiences. Why not begin with a virtual tour for your hospital? 

For hospitals especially, virtual tours are an important component of that experience. They come with a number of advantages, from easing the fears of prospective patients to closer community involvement. 

Virtual reality tours, it turns out, are no longer a fad. Today,  50% of adults on the internet use them to help in their decision-making process. In this guide, we’ll discuss the benefits of virtual tours for hospitals, what tour stops you should include in your own platform, and what considerations to keep in mind as you look to engage your audience and ease their anxieties.

The Benefits of Virtual Tours for Hospitals

There are plenty of advantages your hospital can leverage through a virtual tour. Among them, three stand out as especially important for your patient acquisition and satisfaction, as well as your community engagement strategy.

1. Increase Comfort for First-Time Patients

It’s no surprise that, especially the first time they visit a hospital, patients are stressed. They don’t know what to expect, don’t know the people taking care of them, and  research has shown  that this uncertainty can lead to anxiety and even panic attacks. 

No virtual tour is a magic bullet to solve this anxiety. It can, however, play an important role in calming these fears. If your patients learn about your facilities, from the front lobby to the area where they’ll be treated, they’ll develop a feeling of familiarity that calms their nerves and ultimately makes for a more relaxed visit.

2. Help Patient Families Get to Know the Place

Of course, the patients’ secondary stakeholders matter as well. They’ll want to know what to expect, where to park, and where to pick up some flowers or gifts as they visit patients. For hospitals with long-term care and rehab stations, they might also want to play a role in deciding whether this facility is right for their loved one.

A virtual tour can help them get to know your hospital’s most important areas for them. That way, by the time they stop by for the visit, they’ll feel comfortable, and are more able to focus on their loved ones’ well-being.

3. Drive Engagement in Your Local Community

Finally, don’t underestimate the impact a virtual tour can have on your local community. No hospital, of course, exists in isolation. Before they become residents in your rooms, prospective patients are just members of a larger community wanting to make sure their healthcare needs are taken care of if needed.

Promoted the right way, the virtual tour can play a role in that process. It can be leveraged as a type of ‘virtual open house,’ inviting members of your community to tour the stations and rooms from the comfort of their living room. That engagement will play off significantly in the long run.

8 Tour Stops Every Hospital Virtual Tour Should Include

Understanding the  why  behind these interactive tours is only the beginning. The  how  begins with understanding exactly what you should prepare to showcase.

An important disclaimer: ultimately, every hospital’s situation is unique. The ideal number and topic areas of your stops may differ from the next hospital down the road. That said, these 8 must-have virtual tour stops are a great start for your planning stage.

1. The Lobby

It’s the first thing your visitors and patients see, and you’ve probably spent significant resources to plan and design it. That makes it the first stop on your tour, providing a comforting feeling for users as they virtually ‘look around’ and check out their surroundings.

2. The Gift Shop

For most hospitals, this is a natural stop right after the lobby because of its close physical proximity. Both patients and prospective visitors will appreciate a closer look and this stop, along with both visual and textual descriptions of just what kinds of items they can buy here.

3. The Cafeteria (and Other Food Stops)

The third natural spot in the tour goes to basic nourishment. This gives you an opportunity to show off your main public eating space, along with the types of food available. If you have other food stops for patients and visitors, you can feature them either via supplemental media or, if significant enough, their own tour stop. 

4. Rest and Relaxation Areas

Your hospital likely has a number of spaces specifically designed to make both patients and visitors feel more comfortable. These might include:

• Courtyards and outdoor gardens
• Children’s (or siblings) play rooms
• Art exhibits 
• Library or resource centers

Each of these, ideally, should get their own virtual tour stop. That helps communicate your patient and visitor-centric approach, an important part of the communications strategy for many hospitals.

5. The Emergency Room and ICU

When a patient has to come in short-notice, what can they expect? The emergency room is definitely an area, you’ll need to stage before including them as a stop. It also pays to show your intensive care unit as a separate stop, providing patients peace of mind that they will be well-taken care of.

6. The Nursing Station

You likely have one of these on every floor and unit within your hospital. Use your virtual tour to highlight exactly what they look like, with a description of what exactly patients can expect. Including this stop also leads you naturally into the next must-have:

7. A “Regular” Room

Showcase one of your patient rooms. This is likely a spot that most of your users will have an active interest in, as they will sooner or later find themselves in one of them either as a visitor or a patient. Pick one that presents itself especially well, but make sure you don’t misrepresent what the typical patient experience is like.

8. Any Specialty Areas

Beyond regular care, your hospital likely provides a number of specialized services for prospective patients. That might include:

• A Maternity ward
• A catheterization laboratory
• An X-Ray and imaging center
• Same-day surgery rooms

Again, the goal here is to not just provide peace of mind, but introduce distinction. Adding stops for your specialties helps you stand out from other facilities looking to offer (but unable to show) similar care.

What to Consider What Planning Your Hospital’s Virtual Tour

As you plan through your virtual tour, a few important considerations can help you maximize the potential benefits mentioned above and throughout this guide. These considerations include:

Comprehensive is good, but don’t overdo it .

You definitely want to showcase the various areas of your hospital. At the same time, adding too many stops may lose the focus of your audience. For instance, showing a patient room is important, but you probably won’t need to show every variation of patient room your hospital offers.

Provide supplemental information where possible .

Every tour stop offers the possibility for supplemental media, such as extra photos and videos offered in a library or as hotspots. That allows you to add additional info without distracting from the core message or visual appeal.

Honesty is crucial .

Yes, your virtual tour is designed to show your hospital in the best possible light. However, it’s a thin line to walk between accomplishing that goal and misleading prospective patients and visitors. Be mindful of that line as you stage rooms, plan shoots, and build the tour.

Build in natural conversion points .

Based on their experience with your tour, your audience might want to contact you or learn more about the hospital in other ways. Accommodate their needs by adding call-to-action buttons throughout the tour that naturally guide your audience towards those points.

Build an intuitive flow .

Not all of your users will start at the beginning, but most well. It’s best to organize your tour in a way that mimics their physical experience in the hospital. Start with the lobby, move to the gift shop, and only then begin to move into the patient and treatment areas.

Find the right virtual tour software .

You’ll find plenty of vendors looking to sell their virtual tour services to you. Not all of them are well-prepared to understand and accommodate the nuances of your industry. A virtual tour partner who has experience working with hospitals will be vital to build a successful experience.

We’d love to help with that last item. Concept3D has spent years building and optimizing virtual tours in a variety of industries, including healthcare. Our experience has allowed us to become a reliable partner for many hospitals, while our intuitive platform has helped them better engage and communicate with their audience through interactive maps and virtual tours

If you’re looking to build a virtual tour for your own hospital, that level of partnership is crucial.  Contact us  to start the conversation today.

Interested in learning how we can help your hospital?

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Statue of Liberty National Monument | HARD HAT TOUR OF THE ELLIS ISLAND HOSPITAL

• PARK AT A GLANCE
• VISITOR CENTER
• ELLIS ISLAND
• LIBERTY ISL ACCESS
• PEDESTAL ACCESS
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Hard Hat Tour of the Ellis Island Hospital Complex

Story by Rebecca Dieumegarde and Steve Markos Hospital photos by Rebecca Dieumegarde and Steve Markos

HARD HAT TOUR LOGISTICS

Save Ellis Island, Inc. , the National Park Service partner organization that helps with the preservation of the buildings on Ellis Island, operates a tour of the Hospital Complex, a collection of dilapidated buildings on the south side of the island. The tour takes its name from the fact that participants must wear hard hats. This is the only way to see the hospital ruins, and aside from the Main Immigration building (now the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration ), it is the only area of the island open to tourists.

Main immigration building at Ellis Island

Tours are held six times a day from March through December and four times a day in January and February. There is a fee, and you can purchase tickets in advance on the Statue Cruises website, the official ticket vendor and ferry operator for Statue of Liberty National Monument, or in person the day of the tour at the National Park Service information desk in the Immigration Museum (if any tickets remain). I highly recommend getting a ticket in advance, as only fifteen people are allowed on each tour.

The current price of the Hard Hat Tour is $75, and this includes a General Admission ticket for Statue of Liberty National Monument (a $25 value). This allows you to visit the grounds of Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty Museum  but does not include entrance into the Statue of Liberty itself. If you want to get inside, you’ll need either a Pedestal or Crown ticket, and you must purchase one of these in addition to the Hard Hat Tour ticket. See the Tickets web page here on National Park Planner for complete information on the types of tickets and how to purchase them.

Information desk at the Ellis Island National Immigration Museum

Tickets for the Hard Hat Tour are not that difficult to get because of the extra fee, plus most people come to the park to see the Statue of Liberty. I attended the 1:30 PM tour on a busy Saturday and only 12 of the 15 tickets were sold in advance, though the remaining three tickets were purchased by walk-up customers.

If departing from Battery Park in Manhattan, the ferry stops at Liberty Island before Ellis Island. The trip to Ellis Island itself takes about an hour, but you must also factor in time to go through security before boarding the ferry. If traveling from Liberty State Park in New Jersey, Ellis Island is the first stop (about 20 minutes from the time you board the ferry). You still have to go through security, but the lines in New Jersey are usually much shorter.

The way ticketing for the Hard Hat Tour works, assuming you only want to do the Hard Hat Tour and are not interested in visiting the Statue of Liberty, is that you pick a time to get into the security line at the ferry, and this time corresponds to a Hard Hat Tour. For example, when purchasing a ticket with a 10 AM security check-in, you are purchasing a 12:30 PM Hard Hat Tour. The current March through December tour times are 9 AM security / 11:30 AM tour; 9:30 AM / 12 PM; 10 AM / 12:30 PM; 11 AM / 1:30 PM; 11:30 AM / 2 PM; 12 PM / 2:30 PM. All six departure / tours are available from Liberty State Park, but only four are available from Battery Park. With any of these security / tour time scenarios, if you are leaving from Battery Park, you need to go directly to Ellis Island. Do not stop at Liberty Island. If time allows, you can travel to Liberty Island after the Hard Hat Tour.

Keep in mind that the security check-in time does not mean you are going to get on a ferry at or near that time. Furthermore, during the summer you need to be in line an hour prior to check-in time because there are hundreds of other people with the same ticket (a half-hour prior should work for the off season). Notice that the time between security check-in and Hard Hat Tour is 1.5 hours with a 9 AM check-in and 2.5 hours with a 12 PM check-in. This is because the line gets longer as the day wears on. With a Hard Hat Ticket, or any ticket purchased online, you get to use the Priority security line instead of the general admission security line, which is usually a much longer line. Even so, on a busy day I have my doubts about getting to Ellis Island from Battery Park by 2:30 PM with a 12 PM security check-in time unless they move Hard Hat Tour ticket holders right to the front of the line. I’ve done two Hard Hat Tours, and the reason I don’t know about getting moved to the front is because I have never done a Hard Hat Tour on its own.

Like most tourists, I want to stop at both Liberty and Ellis Islands, and as long as I purchase a 9 AM / 11:30 AM Hard Hat Tour ticket, there is plenty of time to visit Liberty Island after the tour. But what if all that remains is a 2:30 PM Hard Hat Tour and I can’t go through security until 12 PM? There would be no time to stop at Liberty Island after the tour, which doesn’t even end until 4 PM (the park closes at 5 PM). What I must therefore do is purchase a separate General Admission, Pedestal, or Crown ticket with an earlier security check-in time. This is what I’ve always done, which is why I’ve never been in a hurry to get to Ellis Island for my Hard Hat Tour.

I’m about to give you the best advice you are ever going to get if you are departing from Battery Park and want to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and do the Hard Hat Tour without being rushed. Purchase either an 11:30 AM or 2:30 PM Hard Hat Tour ticket, currently the first and last tours of the day. Either way, your goal is to get on the very first ferry, which currently departs at 9 AM. To do so, purchase a separate 9 AM check-in ticket for the Pedestal or the Crown of the Statue of Liberty—forget General Admission. Even though your ticket states 9 AM security check-in, security actually opens at 8:30 AM. Be in line at least by then, and 8 AM is even better.

When I visited in August, I was in line at 8 AM along with 50 or so other people. Security opened at 8:30 AM, and ten minutes later I was waiting to board the ferry. Had I arrived at 8:30 AM, I’m sure I still would have gotten on the first boat, but better safe than sorry. I booked the 2:30 PM Hard Hat Tour, so I went to Liberty Island first, arriving at 9:30 AM. I had time to visit the Statue of Liberty Museum and go inside the statue with my Pedestal Ticket. I did all I came to do and was on the boat to Ellis Island by 11:30 AM. I arrived at Ellis Island twenty minutes later, had lunch, visited the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, and was ready for my Hard Hat Tour without any rushing. I headed back to Battery Park at 4 PM. If you book the early Hard Hat Tour, visit Ellis Island first, then take the New Jersey ferry to Liberty Island and spend the rest of the day visiting the Statue of Liberty.

I just wanted to thank you so much for your wonderful and very thorough blog concerning the Ellis Island Hard Hat tour. You had great tips on how to do both this tour and the Statue of Liberty Pedestal (this is not very clear from the ticket website), and they were spot on! I took the first pedestal tour from Battery Park, had plenty of time at the pedestal (I was the first person in), to enjoy both the pedestal and main museum on Liberty Island, and to catch the 11:40 ferry to Ellis Island. I checked in/signed the waiver for the Hard Hat tour right away per your recommendation, then had plenty of time to tour the exhibits there and have a quick lunch at the café to make the 2:30 Hard Hat Tour (which was great!).  Again, thank you so much for making my visit perfect!

I also attended the Hard Hat Tour on the Saturday prior to the New York City Marathon (November 4th). I got in the security line at 10 AM, and it took two hours to get through security. By the time I docked at Ellis Island it was 1 PM, and my tour was at 1:30 PM. When departing from Battery Park, I highly suggest that regardless of your Hard Hat Tour time, get on the 9 AM ferry one way or another.

If leaving from Liberty State Park in New Jersey, I suggest getting the earliest Hard Hat Tour and visiting the Statue of Liberty afterwards. From Liberty State Park, you shouldn’t have any problems getting to Ellis Island in time for your tour if you arrive at check-in time.

Upon arrival at Ellis Island, head inside the museum and sign in for the tour at the National Park Service information desk. All participants must sign a waiver. The tour operator asks that you arrive one hour prior to your tour, but this is not necessary. You just need to show up early enough to sign your name. I don’t recommend arriving with five minutes to spare, but fifteen minutes or more should be fine. Once you register, feel free to roam around. Just be back at the information desk ten minutes or so before your tour time. Look for a tour guide wearing a hard hat.

The Hard Hat Tour lasts 1.5 hours, and you will be standing for almost the entire time. There are a few stairs, but the walk is not very demanding, so the tour is appropriate for most people. The buildings, however, are not accessible to those in wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers. Also, guests must be at least 13 years old to attend, and those under 18 must be accompanied by a person at least 18 years old. No sandals, flip-flops, or other open-toed or high-heeled shoes are permitted. There are no restrooms at the hospital.

No audio or video recordings are permitted during the tour, but you can take photos without a flash. You cannot bring tripods or other photography accessories.

ELLIS ISLAND HOSPITAL HISTORY

From 1892 until 1954, over 12 million immigrants passed through the Ellis Island Immigration Depot. Upon arrival, each person was subject to a health and psychological inspection. Those who did not pass the initial visual inspection had their shirts or jackets marked with chalk to indicate that further evaluation was required. Approximately 20 percent of the immigrants failed the visual inspection, though most were treated and later allowed to enter the country. Only around 2 percent of the total immigrants coming through Ellis Island were deported, with less than one percent due to having an incurable disease (the rest were sent back for legal reasons).

Ellis Island, which is almost entirely man-made, is comprised of three separate islands. The first island was the checkpoint where all immigrants arrived (the section where the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is located). This was the only island that existed from the time the Immigration Depot opened in 1892 up until 1902. During these years, immigrants with infectious diseases were quarantined at hospitals on Hoffman and Swinburne islands.

Model on display inside the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration of the wooden building complex on the expanded Ellis Island in 1897

All buildings on Ellis Island, which were originally made of wood, burned down in a fire on June 15, 1897. The federal government rebuilt the facility using stone and brick, and when it reopened in December 1900, plans were made to build a second island to house Ellis Island’s own 125-bed hospital. This was completed in March 1902. The facility was quickly overwhelmed by patients, and additional buildings were constructed over the next few years. However, those with infectious diseases continued to be quarantined at other hospitals in the Manhattan area.

Model of Ellis Island in 1903 on display inside the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration

The third island was built to hold a Contagious Diseases hospital. The facility was completed in 1909 but did not open until 1911 due to a lack of equipment. There was a 200-foot harbor separating the General Hospital from the Contagious Diseases facility, a distance that was believed to be adequate in preventing diseases from spreading. The harbor was filled in to create a small green space in the 1920s.

Model of Ellis Island around 1920 on display inside the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration

Satellite view of Ellis Island today

The Ellis Island hospital closed in 1930, though some of the buildings were used as offices for the FBI. During World War II the island was used by the U. S. Coast Guard, and the hospital reopened to treat wounded soldiers. German and Italian POWs where also interned on the island. After the war, part of the facility continued to be used as a military hospital. It wasn’t until 1954 that Ellis Island was entirely closed and the buildings began to decay due to non use.

See the main Ellis Island web page here on National Park Planner to learn more about the history of the island.

VIRTUAL HARD HAT TOUR

The Ellis Island Hospital complex is located on Island 2 (General Hospital) and Island 3 (Contagious Diseases Hospital). An enclosed corridor makes it possible to walk to any building on the island without venturing outdoors. However, depending on the weather, your tour guide may take the group outside instead, cutting across the lawn from the Main Immigration Building to the first stop on the tour, the restored Art Deco-style Ferry Building from 1936. This is where the ferry originally docked at Ellis Island. The building also had offices for the U. S. Customs Service and a lunchroom.

The current Ferry Building replaced an older, dilapidated building that was torn down in 1935. It was built by the Works Progress Administration, an organization designed to get men back to work during the Great Depression by building public works in urban areas. The Ferry Building was restored between 2000 and 2007 by the Save Ellis Island Foundation. As far as the Hard Hat Tour is concerned, this is where the tour group gets its hard hats before heading over to the General Hospital on Island 2.

1936 Ferry Building is where the ferry originally docked at Ellis Island

Inside the restored Ferry Building on Ellis Island

The next stop on the Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour is the hospital’s Laundry Outbuilding in New Jersey. Yes, you heard that right. While Island 1 is in New York, Islands 2 and 3 are in New Jersey. The small, multi-gabled Laundry building is first building you come to when reaching the other side of the harbor between Islands 1 and 2. This facility was completed in December 1901. In addition to housing disinfecting and laundry cleaning equipment, the building had dorm rooms for staff, a morgue, and an autopsy room.

The laundry facility consisted of two large washers and one dryer. Sheets were washed, dried, and ironed, and then placed directly on the beds to avoided being folded. This prevented creases from forming, which could lead to bed sores. Three thousand pieces of linen were washed daily.

Industrial laundry cleaning equipment left behind in the Laundry Building on Ellis Island

Laundry cleaning equipment left behind in the Ellis Island Laundry Building

After the Laundry building, the tour heads outside and stops behind the General Hospital. These are the buildings you see when looking across the harbor from the Main Immigration Building. The lawn area that you will be standing on was once the harbor between Islands 2 and 3, and if you recall from the above article on the history of Ellis Island, in the 1920s this was filled in to create a green space.

General Hospital building at Ellis Island

Layout of the Ellis Island Hospital complex

The General Hospital is where physically and mentally sick immigrants with non-contagious diseases were treated. This could be anyone from a pregnant woman to a person suspected of being mentally ill. The complex is made up of three buildings that were constructed in stages between 1900 and 1909. The original hospital building, which officially opened in 1902, is the second building from the Laundry Building (the building next to the laundry is the Psychopathic Ward built in 1906). The middle building, the Administration Building, opened in 1907. The third building, which is nearly identical to the original hospital, opened in 1909. Unfortunately, none of these buildings, including the Psych Ward, are stable, so nobody is allowed inside.

Back side of the Psych Ward (closest building) and General Hospital buildings on Ellis Island

Bordering the lawn between Islands 2 and 3 is another restored building called the Shelter. As with the Ferry Building, this was built by the WPA in the 1930s, and as the name implies, it was nothing more than a place to relax on a hot day.

The Shelter, part of the Ellis Island General Hospital complex

From the General Hospital, the tour cuts across the lawn towards Island 3 where the Contagious Diseases Hospital is located. Built from 1906 to 1911, the Contagious Diseases buildings have been stabilized and are visited on the tour.

Entering the Contagious Diseases Hospital on the Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour

Contagious Diseases buildings of the hospital complex on Ellis Island

As you tour the Contagious Diseases Hospital, you will see various examples of art by a French street artist known as JR. These consist of historical photographs that were enlarged and then wheat-pasted to the walls and windows. Like the decaying buildings themselves, the art will one day peel off and end up in ruins. On one of the windows that looks out into a courtyard between two hospital wards is a photo of children with favus, a disease that affects the scalp. In most cases, this could be cured, but the treatment was extremely painful. Today, fauvs is rare and can be treated with topical and oral medications. (The documentary film Faces Places is about JR and received an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary in 2017.)

Photograph of children with favus, enlarged and pasted to the windows by street artist JR inside the Contagious Diseases Hospital on Ellis Island

A 750-foot corridor runs the length of the Contagious Diseases Hospital, connecting all buildings together. Branching off from the corridor on either side is a series of hospital wards that once held up to 14 beds each. Oftentimes the nurses’ station would be behind a glass window so they could watch the patients without having to unnecessarily expose themselves to contagious diseases. While approximately 3,500 people died on Ellis Island, surprisingly, no doctor or nurse passed away or became infected with any disease.

Corridor connects all buildings in the Contagious Disease Hospital on Ellis Island

The first stop at the Contagious Diseases Hospital is at a multipurpose building located at the very northwest corner of Island 3. The building featured a powerhouse, a laundry facility, and a mattress autoclave, a machine that was used to sanitize up to four mattresses at once.

Mattress autoclave inn the Contagious Diseases Hospital on Ellis Island

Also located in the corner building is the morgue, a section of which doubled as a medical training facility. With the wide variety of people who passed through Ellis Island, the medical students were able to learn a great deal about ailments from around the world. The multi-tiered area with steps on either side is where students would sit to watch autopsies and other medical demonstrations. This is one stop on the tour where participants can sit while listening to the tour guide.

Training facility in the morgue of the Ellis Island Contagious Diseases Hospital

Refrigerated storage for corpses at the Contagious Diseases Hospital morgue on Ellis Island

As the tour continues down the corridor, there are a number of open rooms that you can take a peak inside.

Ruins of a former ward at the Ellis Island Contagious Diseases Hospital

Abandoned hospital ward at the Ellis Island Contagious Diseases Hospital

The next stop on the Hard Hat Tour is the Administration Building, the large building at the center of the Contagious Diseases Hospital. The desks and other furniture were left behind by the Coast Guard, which occupied Ellis Island from 1939 to 1946 and again from 1951 until 1954. The 1924 National Origins Act allowed potential immigrants to have their paperwork processed and health and other inspections done in their home countries, thus making a facility like Ellis Island less important. When World War II broke out in 1939, the island was used as a training facility for the Coast Guard, though the hospital continued as a functioning hospital. Once the United Stated entered the war, the hospital was mainly used to treat injured soldiers. The few immigrants on the island were either criminals or terminally ill who were waiting to be deported, or those who somehow lost their papers on the way to America. In 1951 the Coast Guard established a Port Security Unit that remained in operation until all facilities on Ellis Island were closed in 1954.

Offices at the Contagious Diseases Hospital on Ellis Island

The hospital kitchen is located behind the Administration Building, and it was here that 1,500 meals a day were prepared and served. Mothers and children were given milk and biscuits twice a day. Not much remains of the kitchen other than a range hood and a few tables. Notice the JR artwork underneath the range hood. This photo is of a ferryboat built in 1904, the Ellis Island , and it is upside down. After Ellis Island closed in 1954, the Ellis Island remained docked at the island, rotting away with the rest of the buildings until it sank during a storm in 1968. The boat was finally removed in 2009. The JR artwork is positioned so that the range hood appears to be the hull of the upside down ferry.

Range hood at the former hospital kitchen on Ellis Island

Old kitchen tables and equipment left behind at the Ellis Island Contagious Diseases Hospital

Tour participants can see some of the actual patient rooms, as well as a communal restroom. The rooms themselves had sinks, but no toilet or shower. Patient rooms in the tuberculosis ward had two sinks. The taller one, which was situated closer to the bed, was for vomiting or regurgitating blood, while the lower sink was used for hygiene purposes.

Patient Room at the Ellis Island Contagious Diseases Hospital

Bathroom with shower and tub in the contagious diseases section of the Ellis Island Hospital complex

Farther down the hallway are the operating rooms. JR’s artwork depicts surgeons and nurses preparing for an operation, and a photo of a surgeon adorns the entrance to the operating room.

Artwork adorns the wall of an operating room at the Ellis Island Contagious Diseases Hospital

Photo of an Ellis Island doctor at the door of the operating room

Inside an operating room at the Ellis Island Contagious Diseases Hospital

The final stop on the Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour is the home of one of the two head doctors on the island, the Chief of Psychiatric and the Chief of Surgery. There was a second house, but this was torn down. As unlikely as it sounds, both doctors lived within the Contagious Diseases Hospital along with their families.

Doctor’s house (right) on Ellis Island

Interior of the doctor’s house on Ellis Island

Kitchen of the doctor’s house on Ellis Island

Empty room in the doctor’s house on Ellis Island

The Hard Hat Tour concludes by exiting from the buildings and onto the grounds at the south side of the island. From here you can get some nice photos of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Total time for the tour is 1.5 hours, time well spent for those interested in history and old buildings.

View of Manhattan from the south end of Ellis Island

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Step back into the abundant history of the former

Traverse City State Hospital. 

Take a Tour

The village story is unique and vital to the history of traverse city.  join us for an array of tours that give an accurate snapshot of dr. munson’s “beauty is therapy” theory on patient care, the former uses of the structures on the property, the purpose of the architecture and more., tours are available year ’round rain or shine.  please dress for the weather, at least half of the tour will be outdoors., guided historic walking tour.

Join us for a Historic Tour of The Village campus, formerly the Traverse City State Hospital grounds.

• 2 hour Guided Tour of The Village campus
• $30 per person, (Ages 12 & over - 11 & under NOT permitted on tour; under 18 requires parent or guardian present) 
• Approximately 1 mile of walking - Not wheelchair accessible 
• Learn about Dr. Munson’s “Beauty is Therapy” theory on patient care, former uses of the structures on the property, purpose of the architecture and much more
• Venture through an unrenovated historic building and walk through an amazing brick steam tunnel built in 1883 
• Dress for the weather - up to 50% of this tour is outdoors

*TOUR DATES ARE PUBLISHED 1-2 MONTHS IN ADVANCE.*

Reserve Now

Asylum Twilight Tour

For those seeking an evening adventure through the campus of the former Traverse City State Hospital.  

• 90 minute Evening Guided Walking Tour
• $35 per person, must be 16 years and older (under 18 years old requires parent or legal guardian to attend)
• Hear excerpts of first hand experiences from former employees and listen for the creaks and groans of the asylum “cottages” settling at night
• Tour includes an excursion into the basement of a former Men's Ward Cottage as well as the underground steam tunnels
• Dress for the weather - 50% of this tour is outdoors, flashlights recommended 

NEW! Visual History Presentation

Developed by veteran tour guides Joe Kilpatrick and Catherine Allen-Goodwin, this is a seated multimedia exploration of the history of the Northern Michigan Asylum, presented in the comfort of Kirkbride Hall, the former Chapel of the Asylum.

Attendees journey through a broad collection of photos and videos related to the remarkable legacy of the Northern Michigan Asylum, from its construction in 1883 through its century of operation and closing in 1989, to its re-birth in the early 2000s.  

Groups of 10 to 120

Email or Call to Book

[email protected] or 231.941.1900 ext. 120

90 minute presentation, $20

90 Minute Explorer Tour

Ready to explore a little more? Join us for this faster-paced tour which highlights the history of the Village Campus, takes you through 2 unrenovated buildings and includes a tour of the 1883 steam tunnels.

• 90 Minute guided tour of the Village Campus
• $30 per person (Ages 12 & over - 11 and under not permitted on tour; under 18 requires parent or guardian present)
• Approximately 1 mile of walking - not wheelchair accessible

*TOUR DATES ARE PUBLISHED 1-2 MONTHS IN ADVANCE*

Golf Cart Tour

Jump on our 6 seater golf cart and with your driver/tour guide take a spin around the former Traverse City State Hospital! 

• 1 hour guided golf cart ride of the Village Campus with view of the former farm of the asylum the Botanic Gardens
• $30 per person (Ages 12 & over - 11 and under not permitted on tour; under 18 requires parent or guardian present)

Taste of the Village Tour

On this unique tour, guests will experience a taste of the many things The Village, formerly known as the Traverse City State Hospital, has to offer. Experience the amazing 1883 brick steam tunnel while learning about patient care and the Kirkbride plan. On your brief walk to The Barrel Room at Left Foot Charley, learn about the preservation and reuse of the former state hospital. Taste a variety of wines created by Left Foot Charley before walking to neighboring Brewery, Earthen Ales, where you will sip and savor while learning about their delicious offerings.

$40 per person, (Ages 21 & over, ID required)

PRIVATE SCHOOL/CORPORATE GROUP TOURS

Spend 1-on-1 time with your guide exploring multiple floors of unrenovated buildings and venture into the 1883 Steam Tunnel. Discover the origins of Dr. Munson’s “Beauty is Therapy,” learn what the iconic red spires were for, and much more. 

• 2 hour Guided Historic Walking Tour of The Village campus
• 25 person max - ages 12 & over - 11 & under NOT permitted on tour; under 18 requires parent or guardian present
• Approximately 1 mile of walking - not wheelchair accessible 
• Dress for the weather - 50% will be Outdoors

Private tours must be scheduled at least 4-6 weeks in advance and are based on availability.  Please email [email protected] with inquiries or to schedule.

Tripod Photography Tour

• 2.5 hour Semi-guided TCSH Tripod Photography Tour
• $50 per person, Ages 18 & over, ID required
• Over 1 mile of walking - Not wheelchair accessible
• Photographers of all levels are welcome
• Explores through various unrestored buildings that are not normally included on our Guided Historic Tour
• This tour also includes an excursion into the 1883 underground steam tunnel

Extended Tripod Photography Tour

Frequently Asked Questions

TCSH Oral History Project

I've explored the grounds on my own and read a lot of history, but nothing compares to the guided tour we took this past weekend. As a mental health professional, this tour was incredible. The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about mental health care, history, and the restoration of the buildings. Not to mention, hilarious. It was amazing to see the inside of these buildings and hear their stories. I recommend this tour to anyone with even the slightest interest in history, mental health care, or just a curiosity about these buildings and their story. Well worth the $25 and the time we spent on the tour. Julie from Grand Rapids

We have been coming here for years to shop, buy coffee and eat at various places. We have hiked many of the trails but today we decided to take the official tour. THE TOUR IS A MUST DO EVENT!!!! Joe was our lively and very knowledgeable tour guide. You sign a waiver for a reason- you get to go into abandoned buildings and tunnels and Joe knows the history of this place very well. The price for the tour was more than fair. I'd go again tomorrow if I could- it was just that good. Seriously, I'd like to come back this summer and do it again. Becky B.