Penn State Health implements tiered visitation process, more restrictions Dec. 9
Penn State Health has adopted a tiered system for visitation to help ensure the safety of patients and staff during the pandemic. The changes, effective Wednesday, Dec. 9, apply to Hershey Medical Center, Holy Spirit Medical Center and St. Joseph Medical Center.
The tiers were determined by a group of systemwide representatives and communicated internally. This new process will enable leaders to more efficiently move between visitation changes, depending upon the level of restrictions needed.
At this time, the system is operating under Tier 3. Adult visitation changes include:
- No visitors for adult patients (refer to the guidelines for definition of “visitor”)
- No family/support persons for adult inpatients, outpatient surgery/procedure patients and emergency department and outpatient clinic patients―Exceptions only
- In adult cases in which an exception is approved, the family/support person is not permitted to stay overnight.
- Labor and Delivery―One family/support person per stay
Pediatric patient changes include:
- No visitors for pediatric patients
- Inpatients―two family/support persons per stay
- Outpatient surgery― two family/support persons per stay
- Emergency department―two family/support persons per stay
- Outpatient procedure/outpatient clinic―one family/support person per stay
In adult cases in which an exception is approved, the family/support person is not permitted to stay overnight.
All tier descriptions are listed in the revised COVID-19 Patient Visitation Guidelines. The guidelines do not apply to patients who meet Special Pathogens isolation criteria. Refer to the common exceptions list for pediatric patients, patients that meet Special Pathogens isolation criteria and exceptions in accordance with federal and state law.
All Penn State Health staff should review the guidelines and keep a printed copy nearby to assist with questions that may arise. Employees also should include absent family/support person(s) in the care of the patient on a daily basis using available technology, such as phones, iPads and laptops. For tips on talking with patients and families about the revised guidelines, please see the “suggested scripting” available here.
System representatives will evaluate the guidelines regularly and make needed changes in response to the COVID-19 environment and safety issues across the system.
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