This includes Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) offices. The policy was first implemented in the spring during the early weeks of the pandemic and later eased as cases began to decline.
The “No Visitation, No Access Policy” takes effect for all LVHN hospitals and outpatient sites as of Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 7 a.m.
According to a press release, LVHN says it's leadership is committed to doing everything possible to ensure families of the most gravely ill patients they can visit their loved one in a safe manner.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided to these visitors to help ensure the safest possible visit. The health network also will provide the technology to allow virtual visits for those who aren’t able to visit patients in the hospital.
In their hospitals and inpatient facilities, no visitors are permitted except under these special circumstances:
In their hospitals and inpatient facilities, no visitors are permitted except under these special circumstances:
- Visitation of a gravely ill patient in the ICU, including those with COVID-19
- Parent visitation of a child in a pediatric ICU or neonatal ICU
- One coach or partner per patient on labor and delivery unit
- One visitor at a time for patients in inpatient hospice unit
- One parent/guardian at a time for pediatric patients
- One visitor to accompany patients for hospital discharge
- One visitor for patients undergoing same-day surgeries and procedures
- One visitor per patient in the emergency department
- No child under age 12 is permitted to visit in the hospital.
For all outpatient appointments, one visitor is permitted to accompany a patient for an outpatient appointment, procedure, same-day surgery or LVPG office visit.
The person accompanying a patient must be in good health and is subject to a health screening, if necessary.