In response to a downward trend in patients with COVID-19 across the health system, Penn State Health has revised its patient visitation guidelines.
The guidelines take effect on Feb. 14 at all facilities, including locally Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center and Penn State Health Medical Group locations.
The policy changes apply to labor and delivery, adult inpatients and adult outpatient surgery patients, as well as outpatient clinic and procedural areas.
Under the revised guidance, adult patients may have two family/support persons per day, and labor and delivery patients may have two family/support persons per day.
Guidance allowing only visitors over the age of 18 remains in place at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, but that limitation has been removed for 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. This revised guidance applies to patients without COVID.
Penn State Health will continue to screen all family/support persons who wish to enter any facility, and no one with COVID symptoms will be permitted to enter.
Everyone entering the facilities will also be required to wear a medical-grade mask – such as a surgical mask – at all times and maintain social distancing guidelines. Penn State Health facilities will provide surgical masks to any patients or visitors who do not have one upon arrival.
Penn State Health offers virtual screenings for COVID-19 through its telehealth service, Penn State Health OnDemand. Anyone with concerns they may have COVID-19 may use the service to talk directly with a provider who can evaluate symptoms and make care recommendations.
