Halacha generally refers to the obligation to visit the sick with the term "Bikur Cholim," which literally means "visiting sick people," in plural form. Why do we refer to this Mitzva in the plural, rather than by the term "Bikur Choleh" – "visiting a sick person"?
One explanation is that whenever an individual takes ill, his condition adversely affects not only him, but also his family and close friends, who endure considerable stress and anxiety as a result of his illness. Family members of a seriously ill patient often do not eat or sleep properly, and in many cases are both physically and emotionally fatigued. Therefore, one who pays a visit to a sick patient in an attempt to lift his spirits performs an act of kindness also for the relatives, who also suffer as a result of the illness, and hence even visiting a single patient may be accurately termed "Bikur Cholim," in the plural form. This is also means that a person who visits a sick patient should make a point to contact or inquire about the family members, and offer to assist in any way he can, such as by offering rides, bringing food, caring for the children, and so on.
How long should a visitor remain with the sick patient?
Clearly, the visitor should not stay so long that he becomes an imposition on the patient. One must use his judgment and common sense to determine how long a visit the patient is capable of handling; not every patient has the strength to entertain a visitor for an extended period of time.
What is the minimum duration of a visit to a sick patient?
Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Jerusalem, 1910-1995) deduces the minimum duration from a Halacha that states that one should not visit a sick patient during the first three or final three hours of the day. During the first three hours, the patient will likely appear refreshed and well-rested, thus giving the mistaken impression that his condition is not so severe, and the visitor may not pray on his behalf. And in the final three hours, he appears frail and infirm, to the point where the visitor might despair from praying for his health. Accordingly, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman noted, Halacha allows visiting a patient during only the middle six hours of the day. Now the Talmud establishes that a person must be prepared to visit a sick patient as many as one hundred times each day. If so, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman calculated, then each visit extends for at least one-hundredth of six hours, or 3.6 minutes. He thus concludes that a visitor should remain with the ill patient for a minimum of 3.6 minutes, provided, of course, that his visit is not an imposition on the patient.
Summary: Visiting a sick patient is beneficial not only to the patient himself, but also, by extension, to his family and close friends who also suffer as a result of his poor health. One who visits a patient must also offer assistance to the family. The visit should last for at least 3.6 minutes, provided that it is not burdensome for the patient.
