Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Hospitals update guidelines for visitors
Revised patient visitation guidelines went into effect today at Penn State Health facilities due to an increase in patients with coronavirus.
The new guidelines are in effect at Penn State Health St. Joseph, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center and Penn State Health Medical Group locations.
Under the revised guidelines, adult inpatients may have one person with them during their entire stay and pediatric patients may have two people. The designated family or support people will be the only ones allowed into the facilities throughout a patient’s stay.
Adult patients of emergency departments and outpatient clinics will not be permitted any family or support people. Exceptions will be made for inpatients and adult patients of emergency departments and outpatient clinics for end- oflife patients and adult patients who have disabilities, communication barriers or behavioral concerns.
All family and support people wishing to enter any facility will continue to be screened, and no one with COVID- 19 symptoms will be permitted to enter.
Everyone entering a facility is required to wear a mask and maintain appropriate social distancing guidelines.
Free virtual COVID- 19 screenings are available through Penn State Health’s telehealth service, Penn State Health OnDemand. Anyone with concerns that they may have COVID- 19 may use the service to talk directly with a provider who can evaluate symptoms and make recommendations.