Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital

Patient & Visitor Information
At the same time, patients require rest for proper healing. For that reason, we ask that family and other visitors please respect our general visiting hours of 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., as well as patient needs and staff requests. If a family member would like to stay with a patient after 9 p.m., please make arrangements with the attending nurse.

Most entrances to Ascension Borges-Lee Hospital are locked from 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily to ensure safety. This includes the ground floor exterior entrance at the parking ramp/atrium. Visitors arriving after 8:30 p.m. should enter through the Borgess Emergency & Trauma Center. Each visitor will be required to sign in and identify the patient they are here to visit.

Anyone with a cold, cough, flu-like symptoms or other illness should not visit a patient in the hospital.

For critical care unit patients, we ask for no visitation during shift change, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., to allow for uninterrupted patient assessments and staff reports.

Due to patient confidentiality and privacy issues, we ask each family to supply the name of one main contact person/significant other, so that we can address phone calls and inquiries through that individual, as permitted under current state and federal laws.

To visit a patient in a critical care unit (NCU, STICU, CSU, and CICU), please call the nurses’ station from the telephone located in the waiting room or outside the unit prior to entering the critical care unit. If visitation is not possible at the time of the call, please wait in the waiting area until a visit is possible.

Visitors may be asked to leave a room during selected tasks of patient care. Please keep in mind that circumstances (such as the condition of the patient or the overall status of the unit) may affect how your visitation is different from that of other families.

Due to space limitations, we request that no more than two visitors be in a patient room at once.

Please be mindful of patient privacy, respect and the need for rest in shared patient rooms.

The post-surgical recovery (PACU) and behavioral health units have their own visitation guidelines that may be obtained from appropriate staff.

Birthing Center visitors: Fathers can visit at any time. Visiting hours for family and friends are established by the patient.

Young Visitors: Please consult with the nursing staff regarding the appropriateness of visits by children. A visiting adult must accompany children at all times, including in patient rooms and waiting areas.

Overnight Visitors: Persons serving as an advocate for a patient while hospitalized, who wish to stay with them overnight, must make a request to the nurse supervisor for the unit. Visitors arriving after 8:30 p.m. will need to check in with the security department at the Emergency & Trauma Center entrance.

Cafeteria and Vending Machines: The cafeteria, located on the ground floor of the hospital, offers a wide variety of foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. An extensive menu of hot and cold breakfast foods are available each morning. Lunch and dinner features include hot entrees, deli sandwiches, a grill and pizza station, large salad bar, and hot soups. A self-service cooler offers fresh fruit, yogurts and beverages. Credit and debit cards are accepted. Full Meal Service Hours are:

• Breakfast: 6:30 to 10:30 a.m.
• Lunch: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dinner: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Vending machines for sandwiches, snacks, and assorted hot and cold beverages are available 24-hours a day in the dining room near the cafeteria exit and in the Emergency & Trauma Center waiting area.

Patient Condition Report Family and friends are invited to call 269-226-4834 at any time for a condition report on a patient. The condition report offered will be in the terms of good, fair, serious or critical. More information may be obtained from the nurses’ station, and will be provided in accordance with current state and federal laws. However, critical care units may limit more detailed information to close family members only.

Internet Access

Most patient rooms and areas within the hospital have access to Wi-Fi.

Spiritual Care/Chapel

An interfaith chapel is located on the ground floor in the South Lobby of Ascension Borgess Hospital and is open 24 hours a day for private prayer. A Muslim prayer room is located off the entryway of the interfaith chapel. Those who are using the prayer room are asked to utilize the vacant/occupied sign on the door to indicate when it is occupied so they will not be disturbed during their prayer time.

Our spiritual care staff may also be able to help individuals find services of other faiths in the area. For more information, call 269-226-4898 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

At Ascension Borgess, we’re committed to not only healing you physically, but also caring for you emotionally and spiritually. We believe that providing for your spiritual needs is an integral part of your recovery. That’s why our chaplains and other staff members place an emphasis on the spiritual dimension of your care. We recognize that being a patient or a family member of a patient can be a fearful and stressful experience. Rest assured, our spiritual care team is always available to offer guidance and compassion or simply listen to your concerns during your hospital stay. Regardless of your religious or spiritual background, we are here for you.

Our Team

• Laurel Andrews Chaplain, Ascension Borgess Hospital     
• Pam Beeman Administrative Assistant, Ascension Borgess Hospital 
• Greg Bishop Chaplain, Ascension Borgess Hospital
• Rosemary Cotter Director, Chaplain, Ascension Borgess Hospital
• Dennis Goodrich Chaplain, Ascension Borgess Hospital 
• Mary Beth Moran-Cross Chaplain, Ascension Borgess Hospital 
• Eni Ng'andu Chaplain, Ascension Borgess Hospital 
• Ben Schaefer Chaplain, Ascension Borgess Hospital
• Jeff Schmidt Chaplain, Reverence Home Health & Hospice
• Greg Stratton Chaplain, Ascension Borgess Hospital 
• Carolyn Strzyzykowski Chaplain, Ascension Borgess Hospital 
• William Wyne Chaplain, Ascension Borgess Hospital 

Sacred Spaces
Many Ascension Borgess locations have sacred spaces available for your use.  You are welcome to visit for prayer and reflection at any time. The chapel at Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital in Dowagiac is located off the main hallway by the emergency room.

Request a Prayer
As a faith-based organization, we are committed to meeting your physical, emotional and spiritual needs. As part of our commitment to meet your spiritual needs, we invite you to submit your prayer requests.

Contact Us
Generally, you can request a chaplain visit through your nurse or other caregivers (e.g., nursing assistant or social worker). Chaplains receive referrals and respond in a timely manner. Call 269-783-3063 for chaplain assistance.