Updated: November 25, 2020
At Penn Medicine, our mission includes providing high-quality patient care. Protecting patient safety, and that of our healthcare providers and staff, requires caution during the evolving situation associated with the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States. The current situation requires us to place restrictions on visitors to Pennsylvania Hospital.
Visitation will not be permitted at Pennsylvania Hospital except under the following special circumstances:
- Labor and delivery, including postpartum, patients: One partner/support person to stay the duration of the visit.
- Neonatal intensive care and pediatric patients: Both parents-banded support people are able to visit every day. Only one person allowed at the bedside at a time (end of life exceptions still apply). There will be no additional visitors permitted.
- Disabled or special needs patients: whose support person is essential to their care (must remain at the bedside) are permitted one additional adult visitor
- End-of-life patients: Maximum of two visitors at the bedside
- Discharge patients: One healthy visitor to assist with discharge
COVID 19 Patients: Two visitors are permitted to be present if death is imminent. Please contact the nursing unit to arrange and review safety guidelines
Visitation Guidelines for Patients Having Surgery:
- Patients will be allowed 1 visitor to accompany them on the day of surgery. Children under 18 years of age are not allowed to accompany the patient.
- The Liberty Lounge (surgical waiting area) opens at 5 am, and will remain open until 9:30 pm.
- On the Day of Surgery: Visitors will be permitted on the Discharge Unit to visit with patients after the Recovery Room to assist with discharge.
- Visitors will be permitted on the Inpatient Units after the Recovery Room for a maximum of 2 hours (if after 9 pm).
Emergency Department Visitor Guidelines:
- No visitors will be permitted in the Emergency Department.
- Only patients meeting the following criteria may have one healthy adult visitor accompany them while in the Emergency Department:
- Patients in need of around the clock caregivers
- Patients with neurocognitive disorders
- Patients with acute altered mental status
- Patients at end of life
- Visitors in the emergency department must comply with all screening and infection prevention protocols, including wearing face coverings, consenting to temperature screening and practicing hand hygiene. Visitors must also stay with the patient at all times and should avoid walking in the hallways. If a visitor leaves the department, reentry is not permitted.
- Visitors for patients who are admitted to the hospital from the emergency department must report to the Main Entrance Lobby for screening prior to traveling to the inpatient area with the patient.
Outpatient Testing Guidelines:
- No visitors will be permitted except in exceptional circumstances.
- Health screening procedures will be required in exceptional circumstances where a visitor may be necessary to facilitate care. Visitors will be required to restrict their mobility within the facility as much as possible during the visit.
Safety Protocols:
Face Coverings: To help maintain a healthy environment, Pennsylvania Hospital is requiring all patients and visitors to wear a face covering or mask at all times. We ask that you bring your own face covering or mask to wear. 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.
Health Screenings: When entering Pennsylvania Hospital, all patients and visitors are required to complete a health screening, which may include having your temperature checked and answering some questions about your health and any recent travel. While you're in Pennsylvania Hospital, visitors may have periodic monitoring. Visitors/support persons will be encouraged to remain in the patient's room during the duration of their visit.
Disruptive behavior, including unwillingness to comply with safety precautions, is not acceptable.
Refusal to follow infection prevention protocols will be addressed directly and promptly. Behavior that creates a risk to patient, families, or staff may lead to the immediate restriction of visitation. If threatening or risky behavior is observed, staff should contact Unit Manager/Nursing Coordinator and Security.
We realize that these restrictions may create challenges, and we are very sorry for any difficulties they may cause. We will continue to evaluate our visitation policies in order to balance the needs of our patients and families with the need to limit exposure to COVID-19. We hope to return to a more open policy once it is safe to do so. If you have questions or concerns, please contact patient and guest relations and they can try to assist you.