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 Tuesday June 1st, Visitation will be permitted at Pennsylvania Hospital under the following circumstances:
- All hospitalized patients, with the exception of those who are COVID-19 positive, are allowed two healthy visitors, 18 or older, between the hours of 9 am to 8 pm. (excluding Women’s Health, Intensive Care Nursery, and Behavioral Health)
- COVID -19 positive patients may have one healthy visitor, 18 or older, between hours of 9 am to 8 pm.
- Visitors for Covid-19 positive patients will be provided appropriate PPE to wear for the duration of the visit once the Covid-19 symptom screening is negative.
- Visitors for Covid-19 positive patients (excluding Women’s Health) should not be eating or drinking in the patient room while hospital staff are present.
- End-of-life Covid-19 positive patients are permitted to have a maximum of two visitors present if death is imminent. Please contact the nursing unit to arrange and review safety guidelines
- 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 (non-Covid): Maximum of two visitors at the bedside
- Discharge patients: One healthy visitor to assist with discharge
Visitation Guidelines for Patients Having Surgery:
- Patients will be allowed one 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 two hours (if after 9 pm).
Emergency Department Visitor Guidelines
Patients may have ONE visitor accompany them during their stay in our Emergency Department once they are placed in a room.
- Patients presenting with symptoms related to COVID-19 will not be permitted a visitor
- Visitor must receive and wear a red visitor pass
- Utilize hand sanitizer or wash hands often
- Visitor must stay in patient rooms at all times
- No walking in hallways or standing in the doorway of patient rooms
- Waiting in the waiting room 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.
Women’s Health Visitor Guidelines
- One healthy support person can stay with the patient on Labor and Delivery and the Mother Baby Unit. Additionally, on the Mother Baby Unit, additional visitors as also permitted during normal visitation hours (9 am to 8 pm). Visitors may switch out but there can be no more than two people (including the banded support person) at a time.
- If the patient is COVID-19 positive, one healthy support person will continue to be supported in both Labor and Delivery and the Mother Baby Unit. The support person will be asked to remain with the patient at all times and wear a surgical mask.
- In the Intensive Care Nursery, two healthy support people are able to visit 24/7.
These parameters were put into place in alignment with current CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19 amongst patients, visitors and staff. Guidelines may be modified based upon situational and clinical need with approval from ED Charge Nurse and Emergency Department leadership. Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in full visitor restriction.
We realize that these restrictions may create challenges, and we are very sorry for any difficulties they may cause. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Patient and Guest Relations and they can try to assist you.
Pennsylvania Hospital has protocols in place to maximize the safety of all who enter our hospital.
- All inpatient visitors will be screened at the hospital lobby during normal visiting hours and must wear a face covering during the entirety of the visit.
- Support persons for outpatient appointments must be screened at their point of destination and must wear a face covering during the entirety of the visit.
- Inpatient visitors 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 / Inpatient visitors may visit the cafeteria or coffee cart to purchase food but you must return to the room you are visiting to eat.
- If a support person/inpatient visitor exits the hospital, they may re-enter during regular visiting hours (9 am 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.