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
At Allen Hospital, we are committed to providing you exceptional care in order to restore our patients' health and allow them to return home. In order to do that, we are committed to providing time for them to rest. There is a great deal of research that indicates that a calm, quiet environment contributes to healing. Therefore, at 12:30 p.m. each day you will hear chimes similar to a grandfather clock indicating the beginning of quiet time. During this time the lights will be dimmed in the hallways, voices in the hallways lowered and we will not be providing treatments during this time unless medically needed.
Quiet times will be from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. each day and 2-4 a.m. each night.
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 are Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends 6:30 a.m. to 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.
Vending Machines
Available 24 hours a day, located in the Allen Cafe, in the Admissions/Outpatient area, 4-Tower, 5-Central, and the Professional Building.
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.
- If an order is received after noon, on a weekend or on a holiday weekend, it will be delivered on the next business day.
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
