Patient & Family-Centered Care
As we have been navigating through the pandemic for over three years, we would like to allow all of our patients the ability to be supported by their family and friends while they are recovering and healing at Jefferson Health.
Our visitor policy continues to adapt and update as we evaluate current recommendations and balance them with providing our patients the ability to have their family and friends at their side.
In order to ensure all patients are both safe and have the support of their loved ones we have streamlined our policy.
Health & Safety is Our Top Priority
New Mask Guidelines
Jefferson Health is implementing voluntary masking as we transition out of the COVID Public Health Emergency and see extremely low levels of COVID-19. We will be removing the overall requirements for masking for staff, patients and visitors with exceptions below:
NJ and PA hospitals, clinics and outpatient offices: Effective 5/16/23
Masks will no longer be required to be worn except in the below situations:
- Bone marrow, oncology and organ transplant units
- Hemodialysis areas
- Any location pre-COVID that required masking (such as droplet isolation rooms, operating rooms, etc.)
Masks will be readily available for patients, staff members or visitors who choose to wear one.
If you have any respiratory symptoms, you should wear a mask.
Please be advised: If outbreaks of COVID-19 are identified or if COVID-19 increases again to high levels within the region as indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 Community Transmission data, or as required by local DOH guidance, Jefferson Health may reinstitute masking protocols.
If you have COVID or flu-like symptoms, please follow current recommendations to test and follow good infection prevention practices.
Additional protocols:
- We will not be actively screening visitors in PA or NJ locations.
- We ask that you refrain from visiting:
- If you are currently have any respiratory symptoms.
- If you currently have been diagnosed with COVID in the last 10 days.
- If you have had close contact with someone with positive COVID in the last 10 days.
- If you have been diagnosed with Mpox (formally known as monkeypox) in the last 4 weeks and your lesions are not fully healed.
- If you have been diagnosed with flu or RSV in the last week.
- Please do not eat in the patient room.
- Please wash your hands or use the hand sanitizer as you enter and leave a patient room.
- At this time, only those 13 and over are permitted to visit.
- Exceptions may apply (such as for end-of-life or other critical times) and will be reviewed by the care team.
We have created the following health protocols you should review before you visit any of our Jefferson locations.
Please know that every patient is unique – as is the circumstance surrounding their care. Our care teams will always compassionately consider those circumstances when making decisions about visitor/ family presence.
Inpatient Guidelines
Visiting patients who do NOT have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 or Mpox
- Adult Inpatient – Two visitors permitted at the same time.
- Emergency Department – Up to two visitors are permitted for the duration of the stay.
- Patient volume may indicate the need to limit visitors.
- Clinics/surgeries/procedures - Two support persons are permitted.
- Maternity – Up to two visitors are permitted at the same time.
- One doula is permitted for the duration of the birth parent's stay (not included in the two visitors).
- Neonatal ICU – Two parents or guardians will be permitted every 24 hours.
- Pediatrics/minors who are patients – Two parents or guardians may stay with the minor.
- End-of-life – No limit on the number of visitors permitted, provided the care team approves and deems it safe and feasible to meet social distancing guidelines.
For patients with physical, intellectual, developmental disabilities and/or cognitive impairments, two support people will be permitted every 24 hours.
*Overall exceptions may apply to pediatrics, labor and delivery, end of life, and patients with intellectual, developmental, or cognitive impairment including dementia, communication barriers, or behavioral concerns.
Visiting COVID-19 positive patients (or patients with coronavirus symptoms)
- One visitor is permitted at a time.
- Exceptions may be made for end of life or critical care needs.
- Other extenuating circumstances should be addressed with the patient's medical team and infection prevention.
- Visitors are asked to refrain from visiting when patients have active symptoms.
- Visitors should consider their health status and risk level before visiting a patient with COVID.
- Visitors should not travel to other locations after leaving the patient room.
- We strongly advise that all visitors to COVID positive patients be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations including all boosters.
- Please be aware that there is a risk of contracting COVID if you visit a patient who has COVID.
Visiting patients who have suspected or confirmed Mpox:
Patients with suspected mpox and have no rash:
- May have 2 visitors at the same time.
- Wear gown, gloves, and mask throughout the visit.
- Visitors with a contagious disease should not be visiting patients to minimize the risk of transmission to others.
Patients with suspected mpox with a rash or confirmed mpox:
- Visitors should be limited to essential for the patient's care and well-being.
- May have 1 visitor.
- Spouse, significant other, parent of a child
- Wear gown, gloves and mask throughout visit
Visitors with a contagious disease should not be visiting patients to minimize the risk of transmission to others.
Outpatient Guidelines
- Clinics/ambulatory practices – Two support people will be permitted.
- Pediatrics/minors who are patients – two parents or guardians may stay with the minor.
- Minors: A child can accompany a parent or caregiver during their medical appointment or PAT visit.
- Masking is not mandatory; however, it is recommended in our outpatient oncology/infusion suites.
Patients who leave the hospital
- A patient who has COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19 will be brought to the vehicle of the person picking up the patient. This protects you, the visitor/support person, from possible virus exposure.
- A patient who does not have COVID-19 may have two visitors/support persons who can be with the patient as he or she leaves the unit and is brought to the vehicle.
Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time. Our goal is to protect you, your loved ones and our staff.
Learn more about COVID-19 from Jefferson Health
Learn more about Jefferson Health's COVID-19 Treatment Program
Last Updated: 5/16/2023