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.
Hospital Visits
Due in part to different directives from the Pennsylvania and New Jersey state governments, our hospitals and facilities are operating differently with regards to their visitor guidelines. Please visit the location website listed below for more details about the visitation policy there.
Doctor's Office Visits
Restrictions on Visitors, Families and Support People of Patients
As of May 17, 2021, Penn Medicine is permitting patients to have one person join them at an appointment or doctor’s office visit. Visitor waiting areas and access to clinical spaces may vary by location due to physical space allowances. We want to provide the support you need and the best possible care experience we can. With most of our staff vaccinated and the local and state governments allowing more businesses to re-open, we feel safe lifting some of our visitor restrictions and ask for your continued partnership in maintaining physical distancing in our healthcare facilities.
If you do not feel you need a support person with you at your visit, we appreciate you coming on your own and helping us limit the foot traffic in our facilities.
Anyone who accompanies a patient to an appointment must be healthy and over the age of 18. To be approved as a support person and receive a pass to enter the building, please fill out our online prescreening form.
Masking Guidelines for Fully Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated People
On Thursday, May 13, the CDC released new masking recommendations. The recommendations state that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting; however, these recommendations do not apply to health care settings and do not supersede state and local jurisdiction rules.
To help maintain a healthy environment, we are requiring all staff, patients and visitors to wear a face covering or mask at all times – regardless of their vaccination status. Universal masking has been one of the most successful measures implemented to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV2 (the virus that causes COVID-19 disease), in both the community and in the health care setting. It will continue to be required in health care settings where the safety of vulnerable patient populations and staff is our top priority.
We ask that you bring your own face covering or mask to wear.
- Your face covering or mask must fully cover both the nose and mouth.
- Cloth masks, surgical masks and regular N95 construction masks are permitted in Penn Medicine hospitals and facilities.
- Any mask with exhalation valves, gaiters, bandanas, scarves and gas masks will not be permitted in Penn Medicine hospitals and facilities.
- Face shields should not be worn instead of a mask, unless for medical reasons.
If you do not have a face covering, we will provide one.
In addition to covering your face, you should practice social distancing and try to restrict your mobility as much as possible.
Screening for COVID-19
One day before your appointment, we will send you an automated text or call to screen you for COVID-19 symptoms. If you do not have any symptoms, the text message will generate a pass, which you can show right on your mobile phone when entering the building or checking in at your appointment.
If you have any symptoms that could be consistent with COVID-19 (these include fevers, chills, cough, loss of sense of taste or smell, muscle pain, headache, or sore throat), a Penn Medicine nurse will follow up with you to review your symptoms and determine next steps.
Anyone coming with you to your appointment needs to complete our online symptom screening, called PennOpen Pass, before you arrive. This prescreener will generate a pass for your visitor or support person. Once they get here, a Penn Medicine employee will check their pass, which they can show right on your mobile phone. Please make sure the person joining you does not fill out the screening more than 72 hours (3 days) before your appointment or visit.
Complete the PennOpen Pass prescreener
Any visitor who is sick, has a high risk of prior exposure or has traveled from a high-risk geographical area will not be permitted to enter any hospital or facility under any circumstances.
In addition to patients, all staff, including physicians, surgeons and nurses, are being screened for COVID-19 symptoms and exposures before entering any of our facilities. Staff with any symptoms of COVID-19 are being tested, and staff with possible exposure to COVID-19 may require quarantine for a period of time prior to returning to work.
Valet Parking
To limit COVID-19 exposure, valet service is currently closed at all Penn Medicine locations, with the exception of the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine and the Farm Journal Building at Pennsylvania Hospital. Valet parking at the Perelman Center and Pennsylvania Hospital is for patients who need assistance and can't park their cars themselves. If you can park, please use our parking garages.
Garage and outdoor parking, drop-offs, shuttle service and patient escorts are available at all locations.
If you choose to use valet service at the Perelman Center or Pennsylvania Hospital, please know that we are making it as safe as possible for you and our staff. Valet staff are being screened for COVID-19 each day. Each valet associate is issued PPE, including gloves, masks and safety goggles, and are given frequent breaks for hand-washing. We are also using PPE inside the actual vehicles, including steering wheel covers, shifter covers and seat covers.
We have made the handling of keys contact-less. You simply need to drop your keys into a clear bag: If the key has a metal stem for ignition, it will penetrate the bag, so the associate is only touching the plastic bag to turn on and off the car. If you use a key FOB, it will remain in the bag until delivery.
All vehicle PPE will be removed and disposed of prior to returning your car to you.
Get more information about parking at the site you will be visiting