Updated: February 15, 2020
The health and safety of our patients, employees and communities remain our top priority at Penn Medicine.
In concert with the health system's policy, Pennsylvania Hospital is limiting the physical presence of patient caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain social distancing and to reduce the risk of
exposure to patients, caregivers, and staff.
Effective Monday, February, 15th, 2021, Visitation will be permitted at Pennsylvania Hospital under the following circumstances:
- All hospitalized patients, with the exception of those who have COVID-19, are permitted to have one healthy family support person or caregiver daily between the hours of 12 pm to 8 pm.
- 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:
- Visitation is currently limited 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.
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.
- All patient support people must be screened at hospital entry and must wear a face covering during the entirety of the visit.
- Support people should stay in the patient room for the entirety of the visit, although they may briefly step out of the room to use the bathroom, or in a situation where the care team requires additional space for treatment.
- Support people may visit the cafeteria or coffee cart to purchase food but you must return to the room you are visiting to eat.
- Support people may re-enter during regular visiting hours (12 pm to 8 pm).
- There will not be any overnight guests during this period, with the exception of support people for patients under the age of 18 and patients with disabilities, such as behavioral issues, severe neurocognitive disorders, or dementia, or for those who may require family support overnight.
- Patients may receive religious services from the religious leader of their choice at any reasonable time if services can be provided without disruption to care.
- Religious leaders must be screened at hospital entry, must wear a face covering during the entirety of the visit.
- Religious leaders are allowed in addition to support people and do not take the place of support people.
A Nurse Manager (or designee) and/or Provider must approve any additional visitor guideline exceptions.
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.