Patient and Visitor Information

What is LVHN's hospital and outpatient visitation policy regarding COVID-19?

During the COVID-19 crisis, we understood how difficult visitation restrictions may have been, but our efforts helped slow the spread of infection in our community.

Even today, visitors who have a possible COVID infection, or who have tested positive for COVID, should not come into an LVHN facility unless they are seeking care for a severe illness or life-threatening condition.

In addition, those recently exposed to COVID-19 (within the past five days) also should avoid visitation.

Mask Policy Reminder

Face masks are optional in most areas at LVHN hospitals. There are circumstances and locations where masks will be required for patients and guests. These include:

• Anyone with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis must wear a mask and may enter only if seeking care for a severe illness or life-threatening condition
• Anyone with respiratory viral symptoms
• Transplant donors and recipients

LVHN’s transitional skilled unit (TSU) at Lehigh Valley Hospital–17th Street must follow the rules and regulations established by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Therefore, masking requirements will be clearly indicated on site and will be dependent upon the presence of active COVID-19 cases on the unit.

Hospital and Inpatient Visitation

In adult inpatient units, including all critical care, medical-surgical and low-level monitoring units:

• Visitation hours are from 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Visitation for COVID-19 patients is limited to two visitors per day. Exceptions may be made for additional visitors for patients who are at end of life.

Critical Care Units

In critical care units:

•    Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are allowed two visitors at a time.
•    Children under 12 may not visit patients in the ICU.

Adult Emergency Rooms

Two visitors are allowed for an adult emergency room patient and those visitors must follow the same guidelines for masking as noted in the general mask policy reminder above. If an emergency room patient is admitted and moved out of the emergency department, inpatient visitation rules apply. See Women’s and Children’s Units for information about Children’s ER.

For Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute:

The updated policy applies to all Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute outpatient locations.

• Two visitors are permitted to accompany patients in the areas below:
  • Physician practices
  • Radiation oncology physician appointments
  • Breast Health Services
  • Multidisciplinary clinics
  • Genetics
  • Hemophilia
  • Survivorship clinics
• One visitor is permitted in our infusion areas.
• Children under age 12 may not visit.

Inpatient cancer unit on 5KS:

• Place face mask covering your mouth and nose
• Use hand sanitizer
• NO flowers are permitted

Transitional Skilled Unit – Lehigh Valley Hospital–17th Street

• Follows current Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines for visitation.
• Patients will be provided the visitation guidelines at the time of admission to TSU.

In women and children’s units:

Birthing Units:

• Birthing triage:
  • Triage is where a pregnant or laboring mom will be evaluated prior to being admitted in labor. One designated support person is allowed and may stay with the patient in the triage area.
• Labor and delivery:
  • One support person and two additional visitors at a time are allowed. Patients are only required to designate their support person; they are no longer required to designate specific visitors. Given the nature of labor, visitation is allowable regardless of time of day at the discretion of clinical staff.
  • A doula is allowed.
  • In cases of patients with COVID-19, at the discretion of unit leadership and in collaboration with Infection Prevention, a single support person may be designated to stay with a patient continuously throughout their admission. Movement outside the patient’s room is not allowed. If the support partner leaves, they are not permitted back in the unit.
  • Children under age 12 may not visit.
  • During the second stage of labor and delivery (or the birth of the baby), a second support person is allowed.
• Obstetrical areas:
  • In mother-baby and perinatal units, one designated support individual and two additional visitors at a time are allowed from 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Children of the patient, regardless of age, may visit with permission of unit leadership, but must be supervised by an adult other than the patient and remain in the room at all times.
  • From 8 p.m.-9 a.m., only the support person is allowed.
  • A doula is allowed.
  • In cases of patients with COVID-19, at the discretion of unit leadership and in collaboration with Infection Prevention, a single support person may be designated to stay with a patient continuously throughout their admission. Movement outside the patient’s room is not allowed. If the support partner leaves, they are not permitted back in the unit.
• Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU):
  • Parents/guardians may designate four support adults who may visit, one at a time, with a parent/guardian in attendance from 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Bedside visitation is limited to two individuals at a time; one individual must be a parent/guardian.
  • Children under age 12 may not visit at this time.

Pediatric units:

• Pediatric areas, including Children’s ER, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and pediatric inpatient unit:
  • Two parents/guardians may remain at the bedside at all times.
  • One additional designated support person is allowed at the bedside 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Siblings may visit with permission of unit leadership but must be supervised by a parent and remain in the patient’s room at all times.

In behavioral health units:

• Face masks are optional on behavioral health units
• Adolescent behavioral health unit patients are permitted daily visitation with one visitor allowed per day.
• Adult behavioral health units are allowed one visitor per day on their assigned days with BH1 and BH2 alternating visitation days.

Outpatient Appointment Information

For all outpatient appointments, two visitors are permitted to accompany a patient for an outpatient appointment, procedure, same-day surgery or LVPG office visit.

• Face masks are optional.
• If you experience symptoms of COVID-19 or may have been exposed to someone who has it, you should postpone your visit.

Updated Visitation Policy for Surgery

• Visitors are welcome to stay with patients in the pre-procedural room before surgery. However, since this room area is small, we ask that only two or three family members or friends visit at one time.
• Visitation for patients in the recovery room is limited to one to two adults for five minutes.
• For patients who need to remain in the recovery room for more than two hours, a second visit may be permitted.
• Children are not permitted in the recovery room.

Weapons-free facilities

For the safety of our patients, visitors and colleagues, weapons are NOT permitted at any Lehigh Valley Health Network location. LVHN has no tolerance for aggressive behavior.

Our hospital campus locations

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–Carbon in Lehighton
• LVH–Dickson City in Dickson City
• LVH–Gilbertsville in Gilbertsville
• LVH–Hazleton in Hazleton
• LVH–Hecktown Oaks in Easton
• LVH–Macungie in Macungie
• LVH–Muhlenberg in Bethlehem
• LVH–Pocono in East Stroudsburg
• LVH–Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street and LVH–Schuylkill S. Jackson Street, both in Pottsville
• LVHN–Tilghman in Allentown
• LVHN–1503 N. Cedar Crest in Allentown
• LVHN–Highland Avenue in Bethlehem

As neighbors and members of your communities, we are here to care for you and your family throughout life.

Helpful hospital information

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:

• Hospital address and contact information
• Parking and valet details
• Visitation information
• Dining options
• Descriptions of programs and services
• How to send a card or flowers
• Locations of our chapel and meditation areas

We are here for you

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.