This page was last updated on: 05/20/2020 at 07:45 AM.
Welcome to Lehigh Valley Health Network and our conveniently located hospitals in eastern Pennsylvania.
The following visitation guidelines take effect May 20.
In our hospitals and inpatient facilities, visitors are allowed in these circumstances:
Healthy visitors are allowed under these guidelines:
In our hospitals and inpatient facilities, visitors are not allowed in these areas:
The visitation guidelines and restrictions will be reviewed weekly and will be updated based on the latest information and with the safety of our patients and colleagues in mind.
To keep you, your baby and our staff safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, LVHN has updated visitation guidelines for our Family Birth and Newborn Centers. We recognize that these temporary visitation restrictions may be deeply upsetting to some of our patients.
Be assured that we are making these decisions in your best interest so that we can ensure the safety of you, your baby and our staff. We will continue to update this policy based on the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other professional societies.
Triage – For the most appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) including, masks, gowns and other coverings, no visitation will be permitted in the triage areas of our Family Birth and Newborn Centers. Unless the patient seems ready to deliver, any visitor will be asked to wait in their vehicle or leave the hospital campus and return when the patient is discharged.
If the patient is admitted for delivery, one support person will be welcome to join her.
Perinatal/Antepartum units – Visitation on perinatal units is not permitted, except under special circumstances that should be approved by unit leadership.
Labor and Delivery/Mother-Baby units – Visitation is still permitted on Labor and Delivery and Mother-Baby units with the following guidance:
Note: Visitors from New York and New Jersey are permitted in Family Birth and Newborn Centers after completing a 14-day home quarantine as advised by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. In addition, they must meet the same screening criteria required of all visitors.
We understand and value the importance and benefit of a support person during this crucial time, so we welcome one visitor or support person to be with you. To keep you, your baby and our staff safe, each visitor will be required to:
Operating room – Visitors will not be permitted in the operating room in the event of a cesarean section due to the risk of viral exposure. The visitor or support person is welcome to remain just outside of the operating room where the baby will be received after delivery.
If the mother has COVID-19 or is suspected to have COVID-19, and is separated from the baby based on recommendations from the CDC, the visitor or support person cannot move between the mother’s isolation room and the baby’s isolation room or nursery. The visitor should become the newborn visitor and no longer the mother’s visitor. If the mother and baby are in the same room, the visitor may stay in the room but should primarily provide newborn care.
Mothers will also be required to wear masks, preferably their own brought from home, including freshly washed cloth masks. If they do not bring a mask, one will be provided to them.
For all outpatient appointments, one visitor is permitted to accompany a patient for an outpatient appointment, procedure, same-day surgery or LVPG office visit. We will make reasonable accommodations for pediatric visits, provided any sibling visitors are in good health.
It is critical in this unprecedented time to keep you safe. Due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19, no visitors are permitted to accompany patients undergoing infusion or radiation oncology treatments except under these special circumstances:
Attention Drivers
If you are a driver for a patient receiving treatment, we encourage you to either go home or wait in your car. Please make sure the person you drop off has your phone number. You will receive a call when the patient’s treatment is finished.
At this time, community clergy will only be permitted to visit patients who are nearing end of life and may visit only to offer communion or last rites.
Eucharistic ministers may not visit to offer communion.
Pastoral care services are available at each LVHN hospital to support and attend to patients’ diverse spiritual needs.
As part of our ongoing effort to ensure safety for patients, staff and our community during the COVID-19 outbreak, visitors at all LVHN hospital locations will be screened effective Friday, March 20.
When you visit any LVHN hospital location, staff will take your temperature at main entrances and at the emergency department using a forehead thermometer.
If you have a temperature higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you will be directed to postpone your visit. If you have a temperature lower than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, staff will ask you a series of questions to ensure you are not at risk of spreading COVID-19.
If you experience symptoms of COVID-19 or may have been exposed to someone who has it, you should take any of these steps to be screened:
The on-site screenings follow the “No Visitation, No Access Policy” we put in place March 15, which is still in effect to help protect the health of our patients and health care providers.
In all LVHN surgery waiting rooms, only one visitor is permitted per patient. Visitors are being seated at least six feet away from one another. Visitors are encouraged to use the EASE app, which sends real-time updates to loved ones. Visitors who drive patient for surgery are asked if they are willing to leave their phone number and go to another location so they can be called when the patient is ready for discharge.
Find helpful information specific to each hospital regarding parking, dining options and more.
Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest in Allentown
LVH–17th Street in Allentown
LVH–Muhlenberg in Bethlehem
LVH–Hazleton in Hazleton
LVH–Pocono in East Stroudsburg
LVH–Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street and LVH–Schuylkill S. Jackson Street, both in Pottsville.
As neighbors and members of your communities, we are here to care for you and your family throughout life.
Each hospital has its own information page on LVHN.org (links are listed above). We invite you to visit the hospital information page for specific local information, including:
If you have additional questions or have a special request during your visit, please speak with any LVHN employee. We are here to help you.