Community Howard Regional Health

3/13/20: Tightened visitor restrictions are in place. More information >>

Visiting Hours

Whether you're visiting a friend, relative or loved one, Community Howard Regional Health's goal is to make you feel welcome and make your visit as pleasant as possible. In consideration of the person you are visiting as well as others, please limit visitors to no more than two at a time. We ask that you wash hands or apply alcohol foam before and after visiting patients. Please do not visit if you are ill or have been exposed to chicken pox, whooping cough or measles. All visitors under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Visiting hours at Community Howard Regional are between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. except in certain areas of the hospital.

ICU Visiting Hours

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Open
2 to 4 p.m. – Closed
4 to 6 p.m. – Open
6 to 8 p.m. – Closed
8 to 10 p.m. – Open

Other Visitor Guidelines

• Family and friends are welcome to visit but please limit visitors to no more than two at a time. Exceptions to this may be arranged.
• All visitors under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Visiting may be restricted if the patient's condition warrants it or if the patient or his/her physician instructs.
• One primary caregiver is encouraged to stay with pediatric patients.
• In Labor and Delivery, up to three people may be in your room during labor. Significant others are encouraged to stay throughout hospitalization.

Please do NOT visit if you have signs or symptoms of any communicable disease including but not limited to: cold, cough, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, rash, open sores or open wounds. Visitors must be free from exposure to chicken pox, whooping cough, and measles in the past 22 days. Additional visitor restrictions may be added during times of high levels of community illness, such as influenza epidemics. If the patient is in isolation, visitors must follow all isolation precautions.

Waiting Areas

Several lobbies and waiting areas are provided by the hospital for the comfort and convenience of patients and visitors. In addition to the south lobby and the east lobby, there are waiting areas at most outpatient service departments. A lounge is located across the hall from the Intensive Care Unit. The Ambulatory Surgery Center lobby accommodates relatives and friends of all surgery patients whether ambulatory or inpatient. A volunteer, when available, will keep those waiting informed of the patient’s progress.

Valet Parking

Note: Valet services are temporarily suspended.

Valet parking is provided at the south entrance of the hospital from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at the east entrance from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. To take advantage of this free service, just bring your car to the circle drive, and a valet will take it to the parking lot. When you are ready to leave, the valet will retrieve your car and bring it back to the circle drive. After posted hours, please dial "0" from a house phone and the operator will contact Security to retrieve your vehicle.

Wireless Internet

Community Howard Regional Health offers free wireless internet access to patients, families and visitors inside the hospital.

Cell Phone Policy

To avoid potential electromagnetic interference with medical devices, cellular telephones are allowed in designated common non-patient care areas only. These designated areas include the cafeteria, patient care waiting areas, elevators, stairway landings, emergency room waiting area, surgery waiting area, Main lobby, lab/radiology waiting areas, cardiovascular waiting areas, oncology waiting areas, and East lobby.

Cellular telephone use in patient areas is strictly prohibited. These restricted areas include cath lab, surgery, emergency room, ICU, radiology, and all patient care areas.

This policy governs the use of cellular telephones by all Howard Regional Health System visitors, patients, department staff, contractors, volunteers, and physicians.

No Smoking

All Community Howard Regional Health buildings and grounds are tobacco free. To promote a healthy environment for our patients, guests and staff, please do not smoke while on our campus.

Please click below to pay your bill online or by phone.

Online Bill Pay

If you need help paying your bill or would like to request an estimate of your healthcare costs, please visit our Financial Assistance page to learn more about your options or call 765-776-8422.

Financial Assistance

Community Benefit Report

Benefit Reports

NOTE: Support groups will not be held in March and April or until further notice.

Community Howard Regional Health offers support groups for cancer, brain injury, Alzheimer's, MS, breastfeeding and more.

Alzheimer's and Caregivers Support Group

• Third Thursday, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
• Main Campus, Community classroom
• For information, call 800-272-3900.

Brain Injury

• Third Monday, 7 p.m.
• Community Howard Specialty Hospital, 829 N. Dixon
• For information, call 765-472-3172.

Breastfeeding

• Every Friday morning, 10 a.m.
• 2201 W. Boulevard (Women's Center)
• For information, call 765-865-6360.

Cancer Support Group

Group is for both patients and caregivers.

• First Wednesday, 5:30 - 7 p.m.
• Community Oncology Center - Kokomo, 3500 S. Lafountain
• For information, call 317-499-3083.

Multiple Sclerosis

• 2nd Thursday, 7 p.m.
• Community Howard Specialty Hospital, 829 N. Dixon
• For information, call 765-513-9675.

Community Howard Regional Health, Howard County Recycling District, and the Kokomo Police Department have joined together to sponsor a safe, legal and environmentally friendly disposal of unused and unwanted medications. The medications will be collected safely and processed according to Indiana law. No I.D. or signatures are required.

Howard County residents can drop off expired and unwanted pharmaceuticals, medications, and needles (sharps) for disposal. Materials may be brought to the Community Surgery Center circle on the Main campus of Community Howard Regional Health on designated dates only.

Where: Community Surgery Center circle on the Main Campus of Community Howard Regional Health
2020 Collection Dates (Saturdays): April 25, October 31
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

What materials are accepted?

Over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, liquid medications, vitamins, pet medications, inhalers and sharps are collected.

How should the materials be handled?

All materials dropped off must be labeled to identify contents. Do not remove labels from containers. Names and addresses can be crossed out with permanent marker to protect privacy. If a container is not labeled, please identify the contents on the container. Sharps (needles/syringes) must be placed in a sealed rigid container. Residents may also use containers such as a laundry detergent bottle or coffee can with the lid taped and sealed.

What materials are NOT accepted?

Bloody or infectious waste and IV or oral chemotherapy drugs are not accepted.

This program is for residentially generated waste from Howard County residents only. Medications or pharmaceuticals generated from professional health care businesses, hospitals, or other businesses will not be accepted.

More Information

For more information, please contact Community Howard Regional Health at 765-776-8593 or Howard County Recycling District at 765-456-2274.

Chaplains care for and support people of all faiths and nonreligious people as well. Many people who enter the hospital setting may be anxious about tests, treatment, surgery or their loved one. Their spirituality, which gives them meaning, hope, comfort and inner peace, may come into question during a time of uncertainty or suffering. Through compassionate listening a chaplain can recognize and identify elements of a patient’s spiritual struggle, enhancing the healing process and promoting holistic well-being.

As part of the Spiritual Services department's commitment to your well-being, a space in the south lobby of the main hospital has been designated a sanctuary for all to visit for times of quiet and prayer.

Community Howard chaplains play many roles in the healthcare environment, including:

• Visit patients within twenty-four hours of admission to assess their spiritual and emotional needs.
• Identify, assess and integrate patients’ cultural, spiritual and religious beliefs in the development of a plan of care and in decisions that are made concerning end-of-life care.
• Provide for religious and cultural needs: prayer, contact with a faith community if requested, Muslim prayer rug, provide copies of sacred text, work with dietitian regarding kosher foods, specific end-of-life needs, etc.

For more information about Spiritual Services please call 765-776-8487.

We are always seeking dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to join the Community Howard Regional Health volunteer organization. Our volunteers range in age from 15 to 95 years old. They are students, homemakers, currently employed or retired administrative workers, engineers, nurses, teachers and others. We invite you to apply through our new online application system. To learn more about volunteering at Howard, click the FAQ button below or call our volunteer coordinator at 765-776-8201.

Apply Online

Howard Volunteer FAQ

NOTE: The April First Friday program is canceled until further notice.

The First Friday Lunch and Learn is a free healthcare education program with a bagged lunch provided to the first 60 participants. For questions or directions call 765-776-8593.

Where: Community Howard Specialty Hospital
Time: 12:10 – 12:50 p.m., dining room

Date: Friday, April 3, 2020 - CANCELED
Speaker: Shamika Morales, Manager of Case Management
Topic: Guardianship and Power of Attorney

Date: Friday, May 1, 2020
Speaker: Robert Kinsey, MD, OB/GYN
Topic: Women's Health

Date: Friday, June 5, 2020
Speaker: Sue Swales, PT, Manager Wound Care Clinic
Topic: Wound Care

Date: Friday, August 7, 2020
Speaker: Lisa Phillips, Alzheimer’s Association
Topic: 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

Date: Friday, September 4, 2020
Speaker: Tammie Floyd, RN, Director of Case Management
Topic: Medicare and Medicare Advantage

Date: Friday, October 2, 2020
Speaker: Jennifer Cramer, Behavioral Health Services
Topic: TBD

Date: Friday, November 6, 2020
Speaker: Jennifer Sylvester, MD
Topic: Understanding Bipolar Disease

Date: Friday, December 4, 2020
Speaker: Matt Salasky, RN, Manager of ER Services
Topic: The Flu vs. the Common Cold