Penn State Health moves to Tier 1 visitation guidelines, modifies policy for people under age 18 effective Feb. 14

NOTE: This article contains outdated information.

In response to the downward trend in COVID-19 cases, Penn State Health will shift its policy to increase the number of visitors permitted for patients in adult inpatient and outpatient surgery and labor and delivery units from one to two family and support persons per day.

Also under the policy change, external clergy are now considered part of the care team and do not count against the number of permitted family/support persons.

The shift moves Penn State Health facilities from Tier 2 to Tier 1 under the Patient Visitation Guidelines.

The rule allowing only visitors over the age of 18 remains in place at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, but leaders approved a policy change that removes that limitation in all other Penn State Health facilities. Visitors under the age of 18 in those facilities must always be supervised by an adult other than the patient.

All health system employees should continue to remind patients and visitors to wear medical-grade masks within the walls and on the grounds of all Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine facilities.

A systemwide visitation policy team that includes patient advisors, infectious disease specialists, physicians and administrators has developed the recommendations during the past two years that have guided Penn State Health’s visitation policy. The team and system leaders constantly assess the health care environment and adjust policies as needed.

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