Information can help reduce fear. You can also help establish a rapport with the medical staff in the clinic, doctor's office, or hospital. Let the staff know you are interested, and that you will politely, but firmly, follow through to fulfill the needs of the patient. Become a partner in the medical care, and ask questions when you need to. There is a reason for assertiveness in the hospital.
All institutions have their own daily routines that seem to work best for that facility.
Sometimes the routine may not be the best for the patient. Your loved one can also ask for maximum privacy not only from visitors, but also from staff. In the hospital room, you may want to make the surroundings as pleasant as possible. Flowers, music, balloons, food that you have prepared, and whatever else might be pleasing to your loved one are all appropriate. Sometimes it may be more comforting to the patient to have silence in the room, and some visitors may have to learn to be comfortable with this.