Family/support persons are now permitted to accompany patients during their care
Penn State Health has revised its patient visitation guideline to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of patients, while also continuing to protect staff, patients and visitors. Now, designated family or support persons will be permitted to accompany patients who are COVID-negative under specific guidelines.
The revised visitation policy recognizes the important role of family within the patient care team. Family/support persons — defined as having a biological, legal or emotional relationship with the patient — are not considered visitors and will be allowed to be on-site to facilitate patient- and family-centered care. Family/support persons must be 18 years of age or older, unless they are the parent of a pediatric patient or the partner of a laboring patient.
Under the revised policy, adult patients who are inpatient or having outpatient surgery will be permitted one family/support person per day. Patients who require moderate sedation and a responsible driver for outpatient procedures will also be permitted one family/support person to accompany them. Due to space limitations, family/support persons will not be permitted to be with adult patients in the Emergency Departments.
Pediatric inpatients are permitted one parent/guardian per day. Additionally, one parent/guardian may accompany the pediatric patient for all outpatient surgeries and procedures ― except for within the operating room ― as well as Emergency Department and outpatient clinic visits. For labor and delivery, one support person is permitted per patient for the entire duration of the stay.
All family/support persons who wish to enter any Penn State Health facility will be screened; no one with COVID-19 symptoms will be permitted to enter. Everyone entering the facilities will also be required to wear a mask and maintain appropriate social distancing guidelines.
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