COVID-19 Patient and Visitor Information
Your Safety is Our Top Priority
You may be concerned about news of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and its implications for your health and those of your loved ones. Your safety and well-being are our top priority.
COVID-19 Patient and Visitor Information.
Visitor Restrictions:
The health and safety of our patients, visitors, employees, and our communities remain a top priority at Suburban Community Hospital. Therefore, in line with the latest guidelines issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health related to COVID-19, we have revised our visiting policy.
Effective Friday, February 18, 2022, we implemented visitor restrictions in inpatient and outpatient areas of Suburban Community Hospital. These safety policies include limiting the number of people accompanying patients to appointments or seeing them in the hospital.
The following safety procedures are in place at Suburban Community Hospital:
- To help maintain a healthy environment, we are requiring all staff, students, patients, and visitors to wear a surgical mask at all times – regardless of their vaccination status.
- If you do not have a surgical mask, we will provide one.
- Please note the mask must cover your nose and mouth.
- If you do not have a surgical mask, we will provide one.
- Visitors may not remove their masks while in the building.
- Visitors must practice hand hygiene and social distancing.
- Visitors may not use the restrooms in the patient room. Visitors should use public restrooms.
- In addition to covering your face, you should practice social distancing and try to restrict your mobility as much as possible.
Please follow the guidance listed above and respect the instruction and guidance of unit or department staff.
Inpatient Visiting Hours
12:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. daily
Visitation Guidelines: What to expect
We understand the importance of visiting friends, family and loved ones in the hospital. While you are with us, please follow these visitation guidelines for everyone’s safety:
How many visitors are allowed?
Each inpatient is permitted to have one visitor or one support person per day unless approved by the nursing supervisor.
However, there are some exceptions:
End-of-life patients, preparation for surgery, or family consultation with the medical teams.
My loved one is hospitalized for COVID. Can I visit them?
COVID-positive or COVID-quarantine patients may not receive visitors. With the patient’s approval, however, the nursing team may provide an update via phone once a day to a designated family member or representative.
Senior Behavioral Health
How many visitors are allowed in Senior Behavioral Health?
We are permitting one visitor per patient at a time in Senior Behavioral Health.
What are the visiting hours in Senior Behavioral Health?
Monday through Friday
- 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday
- 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Emergency Department
How many visitors are allowed in the emergency department (ED) ?
Currently, we are allowing one visitor or one support person per patient in the ED.
When can I visit my loved one in the emergency department (ED) ?
You can visit your loved one in the ED, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What else should I know about the ED?
Once in the ED, visitors must remain in the patient’s room throughout the visit, except when directed otherwise by hospital staff.
Surgical and outpatient medical appointments
Can I accompany my loved one to an outpatient visit?
Yes, one visitor or support person is permitted to accompany a patient during their outpatient office visits or for testing. In some testing locations, you may be asked to wait in a waiting area if space is restricted.
How will I know when my elective surgery is going to be rescheduled?
If your elective surgery has been postponed, your surgeon’s office will reach out to you to reschedule. Thank you for your patience.
Can I postpone my surgery? And if I do, what are the risks of putting it off?
It is important that you discuss this with your doctor so you can make an informed decision based on your medical condition.
General Guidelines
- Visitors to the hospital must obtain a visitor pass from the information desk in the main lobby.
- Visitors are expected to respect the established visiting guidelines of each clinical area.
- Suburban Community Hospital is a smoke-free campus. We ask that all visitors refrain from smoking while on our campus.
- We request that visitors be sensitive to the needs of other patients and families by speaking softly, showing consideration to all, and respecting individuals around them.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Patient Experience at 610.278.2306 and they will do their best to assist you.
Please note, visitors who don’t comply with these rules will be asked to leave the premises.
COVID-19: What you need to know about vaccination
The U.S. FDA has given full authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The FDA has given Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the Modern and Janssen vaccines.
COVID-19: What you need to know about vaccination
The U.S. FDA has given full authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The FDA has given Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the Modern and Janssen vaccines.
COVID Vaccine Information
Where are the other vaccination sites in my area?
We encourage you to be vaccinated at your earliest opportunity. Your county and state Department of Health websites will have more information on vaccination sites and availability, and we encourage you to check these often:
When can I get vaccinated?
Because there is a limited supply of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control is making recommendations to federal, state, and local governments about who should be vaccinated first. Find out more about the process.
Vaccinations for health care providers and our community
At this time, we are not able to schedule any COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
COVID-19 Testing
Suburban Community Hospital is not a COVID-19 testing site. There are many places in our community where you can go for COVID-19 testing, including retail pharmacies and local health departments. Please visit, https://www.montcopa.org/3744/COVID-19-Testing for additonal information.
We ask that you do not visit our Emergency Department (ED) if you are only seeking a COVID-19 test.
Should I get vaccinated?
In order to fight this pandemic, it’s important to use every tool we have to defend ourselves. In addition to masks and social distancing, vaccines work with your immune system to give your body a better chance of fighting off the virus if you do get it. The CDC further explains the importance of COVID-19 vaccination.
What if I'm immunocompromised?
Vaccination is a personal decision. If you are immunocompromised or have concerns about receiving the vaccine and its side effects, make an appointment to discuss these concerns with your healthcare provider. The CDC has more information available for people who are immunocompromised on its website.
What if I'm pregnant? Do I still get vaccinated?
Pregnant patients may be vaccinated, but it’s important to talk with your provider to help you decide whether vaccination is right for you. Vaccination for disease such as COVID-19, which has been authorized for use under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), often demonstrates greater benefit than risk. Here is more information on COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The vaccine came out so quickly. Is it safe?
Many people are concerned about the vaccine’s safety because of how quickly it was developed. The scientific and medical community are unanimously agreed on the safety of the vaccine and you can read more about the benefits being vaccinated. The COVID vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, which do not contain a live virus and cannot infect the vaccinated person. Learn more about mRNA vaccines on the CDC website.
Can I get COVID from the vaccine?
No, you cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. The vaccines being produced in the United States contain no live virus. Research continues regarding vaccination and antibody testing. Get the COVID-19 facts from the CDC.
Additional vaccination sites
In Pennsylvania, the best way to follow the rollout of the vaccine is to stay tuned to the Department of Health website which is constantly being updated. You’ll soon find vaccine locations in Pennsylvania, such as pharmacies, doctor’s offices, urgent care centers, and health centers. Currently, there is no specific timeline identified for the general public.
Whom to call with questions
We understand you may have questions about the vaccine, and you may have some concerns as well. We will continue to provide accurate, up-to-date resources and guidance from the State Department of Health as well as the Centers for Disease Control. We also encourage you to talk to your own primary care provider about whether vaccination is appropriate for you.
If you have concerns or questions about COVID-19 or are exhibiting respiratory symptoms, please contact your primary care provider.
Pfizer and Moderna vaccine FAQ and information
Read these facts sheets to get answers to your frequently asked questions about the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines:
For Medical Records questions, please click here.
While we understand the important role that family members and visitors play in a patient’s healing process, our new policies (which align with many other area hospitals and health systems) aim to balance the needs of patients while maintaining a safe environment for all.
We will continue to monitor this situation. The need for visitor restrictions will be re-evaluated regularly.
Please know that:
- We are taking all necessary measures and precautions to protect the safety of our patients and staff.
- We specialize in the care of patients with complex illnesses and have experience with managing and containing novel viruses.
- This is a rapidly evolving situation and we suggest you check out the latest updates on the CDC website as well as the website of your state health department.
- Hospital visitor policies have been updated to reflect national efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. This policy may change at any time due to the rapidly evolving situation.
- Visitors to patients at end of life will be allowed at the discretion of the care team.
- Hospital entry points will be limited to enable screening of patients and approved visitors. Approved visitors who show any signs of illness, including mild symptoms, should not visit patients in the hospital or accompany patients to the emergency department.
Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19
What is our hospital doing to protect patients?
- We are screening patients with symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath and with a history of travel within the past 14 days to communities with widespread or sustained community transmission of the coronavirus.
- If we have a confirmed or potential patient with COVID-19, we will institute standard infectious disease protocols, as well as additional measures, to prevent the potential spread of the virus. All healthcare providers who have contact with the patient will use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
How concerned should I be about the coronavirus?
- As of now, the seasonal flu remains a significant health risk.
- Coronaviruses can cause the common cold and pneumonia. Most people infected with the novel coronavirus have mild cold symptoms. A small fraction of people, however, may require more intensive care. We understand your concern about protecting yourself from respiratory diseases.
- We have launched an online self-checker for the novel coronavirus in the form of a bot nicknamed Robby. Robby walks users through symptoms and then gives recommendations if medical care is needed. Robby is not intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment purposes.
- Keep informed of the risk by checking the situation update on the CDC website.
What can I do to protect myself?
It is understandable to feel uncertain or anxious during a public health crisis, and we need to remember to avoid making assumptions about others’ perceived symptoms or any characteristics of identity. Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent the novel coronavirus infection. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
Here are the current CDC recommendations to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:
- Take everyday preventive actions for respiratory infections, such as avoiding close contact with people who are sick, staying home when sick, and washing hands often.
- Avoid traveling to places with widespread or sustained community transmission of the coronavirus. A good place for reliable travel information can be found on the CDC’s travel advisory page.
Should I wear a mask?
CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
Where can I learn more?
Concerned patients and family members should talk with their healthcare provider.
You can also find more information about the virus from these websites.
- CDC/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (updated daily with advice for public)
- Find the latest on the CDC website as well as the website of your state health department.
- World Health Organization.
- U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.