Currently, Penn Medicine has protocols in place to maximize the safety of all who enter our hospitals and facilities. These safety policies include limiting the number of people accompanying patients to appointments or seeing them in the hospital.
Visitor Policy at Hospitals for Inpatients
Our hospitals are operating differently with regards to their visitor guidelines for inpatients and visitors of inpatients. Please visit the location website listed below for more details about the visitation policy there.
Visitor Policy for Doctor's Office Visits
Restrictions on Visitors, Families and Support People of Patients
If you need a support person to accompany you to your office visit, we recommend that you bring only one person, but will allow up to two people to accompany you if necessary. We recommend that you do not bring children with you to your office visit; however, we recognize there are situations where it is necessary. Some exclusions apply:
- If your doctor’s visit is inside of a hospital building, rather than in an ambulatory center or clinic, please review the hospital-specific policy above.
- If your visit includes a medical procedure or a test (i.e., ultrasound, mammogram, MRI, etc.), another adult must come with you to watch your child while you are occupied.
- Children over the age of 2 should mask where masking is required. Please review the updated masking guidelines below.
If you do not feel you need a support person with you at your visit, we appreciate you coming on your own. Coming on your own helps us limit foot traffic in our facilities, and helps us save space for those who need it most – particularly as visitor waiting areas and access to clinical spaces can vary by location due to physical space limitations.
Penn Medicine no longer requires visitors to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine or negative COVID-19 test.
Please contact your doctor's office if you have questions or need assistance with the support person process.
Masking Guidelines
Updated May 10, 2024
For appointments on or after Monday, May 13, 2024, masking is optional in our facilities given low community rates of COVID and other respiratory viruses. We encourage patients who are immunocompromised to continue to wear masks in all of our facilities for additional protection.
Any patient or visitor with respiratory symptoms must wear a surgical mask at all times.
Our guidelines may change in response to increases in COVID cases in our region.
Parking Options
Get more information about parking at the site you will be visiting
Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals
In an effort to create a comfortable, safe, and sterile environment for all patients, Penn Medicine only allows service dogs into its facilities. Service dogs receive training to perform a specific task to aid patients with a disability. They must be leashed or controlled at all times by the patient or their support person. Staff are not permitted to take care of animals at any time including during tests and procedures.
Emotional support animals, pets, and unscheduled therapy animals are not permitted in Penn Medicine buildings. Please leave these animals at home or you may not be able to complete your appointment.
Learn more about whether your animal is allowed to come with you