Geisinger keeps non-urgent procedures on hold, updates visitation policies

DANVILLE, Pa. – Geisinger continues to monitor and respond to the novel coronavirus pandemic to ensure the safety of all our patients, members, visitors and employees and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

As part of an evolving response to the pandemic, we are making an adjustment to our visitation policy and keeping elective, non-urgent surgeries on hold through April 30. 

Inpatient visitation remains limited
Geisinger has changed the visitation policy for delivering mothers, who can be accompanied by one support person. Currently, all routine, in-person visits to hospitalized patients have been suspended.

However, we know that sometimes it’s crucial to have a visitor of family member present. Visitors will be allowed for:

• Delivering mothers (one support person)
• Patients who are medically unstable (one visitor)
• Patients who are at the end of life (two visitors)
• Patients undergoing surgery or procedures (one single-time visitor immediately after the procedure)
• Patients who are minors and those with limited decisional capacity (up to two parents or guardians)
• Patients who have altered mental status or developmental delays and caregiver provides safety (one visitor)
• Patients with disruptive behavior, where a family member is key to their care (one visitor)

Approved visitors are subject to the following guidelines:

• Visitors will be screened and must not have symptoms of respiratory infection (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath).
• Visitors who have traveled internationally or been exposed to someone with a fever, the flu or a proven COVID-19 case in the past 14 days are not permitted.
• Visitors must stay in the patient’s room the entire time of the visit. Once they leave the patient’s room, they must leave the medical center.
• Visitors under the age of 18 will not be allowed except under extraordinary circumstances, and no animals other than service animals are permitted.

Additional information about Geisinger’s visitation policy can be found here. Visitors are encouraged to call the hospital operator for visitation hours, which may vary by location.

Elective, non-urgent procedures on hold
Geisinger is extending the hold on all elective, non-urgent procedures through April 30:

• Elective, non-urgent procedures remain on hold.
• Non-urgent appointments may be rescheduled, or patients will be offered other care options, such as telephone or telemedicine visits.
• Patients with urgent appointments will be cared for, and we will use the screening process already in place for identifying potential infection or exposure.
• Scheduled imaging will continue as planned; however, patients will be screened at the time of their scheduling and/or at their appointment.  
• We will continue to monitor the situation to determine whether we need to extend this process beyond two weeks.

Please call first
Geisinger experts continue to ask that before visiting a doctor’s office, convenient care clinic or emergency department, people call their primary care doctor’s office or Geisinger’s 24/7 novel coronavirus hotline at 570-284-3657 if they may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 or if they have: 

• Cough 
• Fever
• Shortness of breath

For general questions and information about COVID-19, people can visit geisinger.org/coronavirus. Using these resources before going to a doctor’s office, walk-in clinic or emergency department can help lessen the possible spread of the virus.

About Geisinger
Geisinger is committed to making better health easier for the more than 1 million people it serves. Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes 10 hospital campuses, a health plan with more than half a million members, a research institute and the Geisinger College of Health Sciences, which includes schools of medicine, nursing and graduate education. With more than 25,000 employees and 1,700+ employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.