VA Maryland Health Care System

Baltimore VA Medical Center - For Your Safety

Valuables

For safekeeping, you are advised to keep all valuables at home. The Baltimore VA Medical Center is not responsible for money or other valuables that you bring and store in your room. We ask that you keep no more than $5.00 with you while you are an inpatient. Any additional money should be deposited with the Agent Cashier. Coupon books and phone cards may be purchased through the Canteen Retail Store on the 2nd floor.

Agent Cashier

The Agent Cashier will help Veterans with check cashing, travel vouchers and co-payments. The Agent Cashier’s office is located in the main lobby of the medical center on the 1st floor and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Families are encouraged to obtain coupon books at the Canteen Retail Store on the 2nd floor for patient use.

Prohibited Items

Patients may not have alcoholic beverages, narcotics, firearms, ammunition, knives, other weapons, lighter fluid, non-safety matches, straightedge razors or any medications from home while at the Baltimore VA Medical Center. If a patient has any of these prohibited items with them while in the VA, they will be required to turn them over to the VA Police.

Smoking Policy

The Baltimore VA Medical Center is a smoke-free facility. Staff, visitors, volunteers and patients may not smoke anywhere in any of the buildings on the medical center campus. Smoking is permitted outside and in designated smoking shelters. Please be considerate of non-smokers and place cigarette butts in designated receptacles and ash trays.

Fire/Disaster Drills

The medical center has a fire and disaster plan for the protection of both patients and staff. If you discover a fire, please tell a staff member right away. If you are on an inpatient unit that needs to be evacuated, please follow the instructions of the staff. Exit signs mark the locations of emergency exits. Fire alarms are located near each exit.

Restraints

The Baltimore VA Medical Center strives for a restraint-free environment. Occasionally, restraints are necessary. The least restrictive method will be used to ensure that the patient’s needs, dignity and rights are maintained. If you have further questions, please contact a member of your health care team.

Zero Tolerance for Violence

In order to maintain a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors – we need your help. The Baltimore VA Medical Center has a “Zero Tolerance” policy for violence. Behavior that is disruptive, threatening or violent will not be tolerated and should be reported to staff or the VA Police immediately. Once identified, corrective action will be implemented as necessary to insure the safety of all parties. Social Work Service provides training to staff in the proper response to violence in the workplace, as well as offering critical incident stress de-briefing services to anyone involved in a violent incident.

Cameras, Video Equipment and Tape Recorders

For reasons of patient privacy, cameras, video equipment and tape recorders are generally not allowed in the Baltimore VA Medical Center. If your family or friends wish to bring in a camera, video camera or tape recorder, they must make arrangements with the Nurse Manager.

VA Police

VA Police are on duty 24 hours a day for your care and protection. Contact the VA Police if the need arises, or if your family members or friends need to be escorted to their car by a police officer. The VA Police Office is located off of the main lobby on the 1st floor in room 1A-100. You can also contact the VA Police at (410) 605-7300.

Back to the Baltimore VA Medical Center page