We can come to a patient’s bedside at either of Santa Monica’s hospitals, UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center on 16th Street and Providence Saint John’s Health Center on Santa Monica Boulevard, at any hour by appointment. Whether the signing can happen depends on the patient, not the hospital: they need to be alert, able to communicate with us and identified.
Check with the care team first
- Ask the nurse about visiting rules for the unit, and any limits in the ICU.
- Ask when the patient is usually most awake, and avoid times right after strong medication if possible.
- Find the patient’s ID. It’s often in a bag at home or with family.
The documents
The usual hospital documents are a durable power of attorney, an advance health care directive, and sometimes a deed or bank form. Print them and fill in every blank before we arrive. Hospital staff generally can’t serve as witnesses on an advance directive, which is one reason families choose a notary instead. See advance health care directives.
At the bedside
We check ID, talk with the patient directly to confirm they understand and want to sign, and record everything in our journal, with a thumbprint for powers of attorney and deeds. If the patient can’t take part that day, we stop and reschedule rather than push. If the patient can’t write a full signature, signature by mark may be possible.
Missing ID
Hospital wristbands don’t count as ID. If there’s no valid ID, credible witnesses may be an option. Tell us when you book.
Hospital visits carry a higher travel fee; see our Policies. More on our pages for UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center and Providence Saint John’s, and the Santa Monica mobile notary page.
Need a notary? We come to you anywhere in Los Angeles County, 24/7 by appointment. Book online or call (424) 484-9268.