Business Hours 

Administrative and Clinical operating hours are normally from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  These offices are generally closed on Saturday, Sunday and recognized Federal Holidays.  Outpatient Clinic operating hours vary by clinic and specific information about any particular clinical hours may be obtained by calling the Medical Center at (919) 286-0411 or (888) 878-6890. 

Emergency or urgent care is available at all times, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Visiting Hours 

Visiting hours, established to permit patient visitation, are generally 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. daily, except for Psychiatry inpatient wards as described in the following paragraph 2(c).  Immediate family members or significant others may visit patients at any time, as approved by the staff physician and/or Nurse Manager/Charge Nurse.  Each case will be evaluated on its own merit to determine whether it is appropriate for family members to remain at the Medical Center and if they may remain at the bedside.  Examples of cases that may be considered may be hospice care or seriously ill patients, OEF/OIF polytrauma inpatients and/or OEF/OIF SCI inpatients, and patients residing in the Extended Care and Rehab Center (ECRC). 

Psychiatry Visiting Hours

The visitation hours on Psychiatry are: 4:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and 1:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. 

Limited Access 

Limited access to the facility will be maintained during those hours in which the Medical Center is closed to the “PUBLIC” for the transaction of business, administrative processes, normal patient visitation, and all but emergency medical treatment in the Emergency Care Area.  From 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. all persons other than scheduled duty employees and persons specifically authorized by the Director to be inside the Medical Center will be required to register with Police Service and record their name and address in the Visitors Register, VA Form 10-4793.  Staff physicians, residents and medical students are considered scheduled duty employees and may gain entry by presence of the Duke photo identification badges.

For safety and health reasons, children are defined as any person less than 12 years of age.  Children are discouraged from visiting the inpatient units unless a special circumstance applies.  Children shall be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult at all times within the Medical Center.  Children are not to visit patient’s rooms when the patient is on isolation precautions.  Exceptions for special circumstances can be considered by Infection Control in coordination with Nursing Service.