Geisinger extends visitation restrictions to all of Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital
DANVILLE, Pa. – As measles cases continue to rise across Pennsylvania, Geisinger is updating visitation rules for patients admitted to Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville.
Effective immediately, visitation to the children’s hospital will be limited to only the patient’s parents or legal guardians if they do not have signs or symptoms associated with measles. Parents and legal guardians will be screened for symptoms upon entering Geisinger Medical Center, which includes the children’s hospital, as part of the hospital’s entrance measles screening protocols implemented in August.
This is an expansion of similar visitation restrictions that went into effect at the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on Friday, Aug. 21. The visitation restrictions will now extend to all inpatient units of the children’s hospital, including the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
“We understand how important family presence is to a child’s healing and care experience at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital,” said Frank Maffei, M.D, chair of pediatrics for Geisinger. “This was not a decision we made lightly. After careful consideration, we determined these measures are necessary to protect the health and safety of all children entrusted to our care, many of whom are especially vulnerable to serious illness. As measles cases continue to increase across our region, we must balance the vital role families play in supporting their children with our responsibility to minimize the risk of exposure and safeguard to all our hospitalized patients.”
Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital is the region’s only children’s hospital, offering advanced pediatric care by specialty-trained providers in more than 30 medical and surgical disciplines. The children’s hospital offers a NICU, PICU, specialized pediatric emergency room and is a designated Level II pediatric trauma center.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness. Symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose and red or watery eyes, followed by a rash that generally begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
Knowing your vaccination status is an important part of protecting your health and the health of those around you. Individuals with questions about their vaccination history or recommended vaccines should speak with their healthcare provider.
“Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to help prevent the spread of highly contagious diseases like measles and to protect those who may be at greatest risk, including infants, children and individuals with weakened immune systems,” noted Dr. Maffei.
Patients and visitors to Geisinger facilities will see signage and be asked questions related to potential measles exposure and symptoms. These precautions are being taken to help protect patients, staff, visitors and the broader community while Geisinger continues to monitor the situation.
About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in rural and urban communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates $9 billion in annual revenues across more than 130 care sites — including 10 hospital campuses — and Geisinger Health Plan, with 509,000+ enrollees in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 600 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,600 clinical research studies. With 28,000 employees, including 1,900 employed physicians and 5,400 registered nurses, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $18 billion on the state’s economy. In 2024, Geisinger joined Risant Health, a nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
