Patients and Visitors
People are amazing — we help keep them that way.
Our main focus is to assist our patients to a healthy recovery and to provide the best quality care possible. We know that the support of family and friends plays a vital role in the recovery process.
With that in mind, we’ve created a helpful resource for patients and visitors that will help make your visit to Allen Hospital as convenient and comfortable as possible. If you don’t find the information you're looking for here, our hospital volunteers or staff members will be glad to help you.
Visitor Guide
General Visitor Information
Hospital Visiting Hours
Visiting hours for most hospital units are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Some units may have more limited visiting time to meet the needs of their patients.
Quiet Times
Quiet times are 12:30-1:30 p.m. each day and 2-4 a.m. each night. At 12:30 p.m. you will hear chimes similar to a grandfather clock indicating the beginning of quiet time. During this time lights in the hallways are dimmed and voices in the hallways lowered.
Any mail or flowers sent to patients while hospitalized will be delivered to their room. Because of the potential for allergic reactions, no latex balloons are allowed in the hospital. Mail received after patients have been discharged will be forwarded to their home address.
Mail should be sent to:
Patient's legal name and room number
Allen Hospital
1825 Logan Ave.
Waterloo, IA 50703
Food & Lodging
Allen Café
Located off the main hallway on the 1st floor, near the D-elevators.
Hours
Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Breakfast: 6:30-10 a.m.
- Traditional breakfast items, specialty breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal, etc.
- Lunch: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Deli station with specialty sandwiches
- Homestyle entrée station
- Grab-n-go with fresh-made salads, sandwiches, heat-and-eat meals and more
- Salad bar – self-serve with fresh ingredients, plus seasonal salads such as potato salad, pasta salad, etc.
- Beverages, snacks, desserts
- Dinner: 3-7 p.m.
- Deli station with specialty sandwiches
- Grab-n-go with fresh-made salads, sandwiches, heat-and-eat meals and more
- Salad bar – self-serve with fresh ingredients, plus seasonal salads such as potato salad, pasta salad, etc.
Weekends & Holidays
- Breakfast: 6:30-10 a.m.
- Lunch: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Guest Trays
Meals are available for visiting members of a patient's family. If a member of the family wants to be served in the patient's room, call 2222 and place your order with the diet office operator. Meals are served to patients between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
The Coffee Lab
Located in the east portion of the Allen Café entryway, The Coffee Lab is a full-service coffee bar proudly serving Starbucks®. Enjoy fresh-brewed Starbucks coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, Frappuccino’s, mochas, iced coffees, cold brews, hand-crafted teas, chai latte, refreshers and more. Credit and debit cards accepted.
Hours
- Monday – Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Weekends: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Vending Machines
Available 24 hours a day. Cash and credit card accepted.
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We have a limited number of Hospitality Rooms for family members of Allen patients. They are short-term accommodations, with priority given to families of our most critically ill patients.
Call Admissions at 3614 to reserve a room or make other accommodations.
If you are considering hotel or motel accommodations for your visit, the Waterloo area offers a wide range of options. It may be helpful to visit the websites below for more information on local hotels and restaurants.
Ramada Limited – Evansdale
The Evansdale Ramada offers discounts to family and friends of a person who is hospitalized. To receive the discounted rate, guests need to inform the hotel when making reservations or at check-in that they are with Allen or are visiting someone at Allen.
Hospital Amenities & Services
There are guest computers available for families and visitors in the Allen Café, surgery waiting area, the ICU Tower in the main hospital, and 2-Heart and 3-Heart in the Pauline Barrett Pavilion.
Computers are for adults only.
Allen Hospital's Floral & Gift Shop is your convenient, one-stop shop for a variety of timely and thoughtful gifts. Flowers and gifts can be delivered to patients and employees.
To place your order with us over the phone, please call (319) 235-3880.
Gift Shop hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Orders placed on weekends or holidays cannot be guaranteed a timely delivery due to limited staff and volunteers. Please contact the shop during our regular business hours to make arrangements for flowers or gifts to be delivered to your loved one.
We offer free wireless Internet access available for patients and visitors.
Select UnityPoint Guest WiFi to connect your phone, laptop or tablet.
Your guide to our guest services includes information on:
- Concerns, Compliments & Feedback
- Your Care Team
- Patient Safety
- Amenities
- Leaving the Hospital
- Payment Options & Insurance
- Much more...
Care of the spirit is an important part of healing. The Spiritual Care team of Allen Hospital is available to support the emotional and spiritual needs of patients, loved ones and staff. We offer chaplain presence and support to people of all religions as well as those with no faith tradition.
The chapel is always open for visitors of all faiths for prayer and meditation. It is located on 1st floor next to the Human Resources office — or from B-elevator, walk straight ahead to the very end of the hallway.
If you would like a chaplain visit, tell your nurse, or call extension 3694. Spiritual Care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Attention to the human spirit, including mind, heart and soul often hastens and contributes to the healing of the whole person. Allen staff chaplains have specialized training from nationally accredited programs; each chaplain has a wide variety of competencies and experiences. Chaplains are members of the interdisciplinary team of healing professionals within the hospital and in the larger community. We will supplement and support your own clergy at your request. Serious illness often causes fear, loneliness and spiritual crisis. We offer support, guidance and spiritual care for issues such as:
- Addictions
- Cancer care
- Cardiac care
- Crisis intervention and support
- Emotional distress
- End-of-life and ethical decision-making
- Family relationships and conflict resolution
- Grief and loss
- Mental health
- Resources for relaxation, meditation and devotion
- Spiritual counsel and support and provision of ritual or sacramental needs
