Your Safety is Our Top Priority

Patient and Visitor Information

New Masking Guidelines

At Suburban Community Hospital, your health and safety are our top priorities.

Suburban Community Hospital used universal masking as an effective tool to prevent transmission of COVID-19 when the virus was prevalent in the community, and the possibility of severe complications and consequences of infection was high.

As of Tuesday, May 9, 2023, employees, and visitors will no longer be required to wear masks in hallways, lobbies, clinical, and waiting areas. This decision is based on data showing sustained lower levels of COVID-19 activity and the availability of vaccines to protect against serious complications.

This careful and thoughtful decision is made in collaboration with our Infectious Disease specialists, clinical teams, and peer health systems with guidance from the State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Suburban Community Hospital remains an environment welcoming to those choosing to mask, and masks will remain widely available. Note that masking will remain required in specific patient care areas.

In areas where masking is not required:

• Masks remain available. People are permitted, encouraged, and supported to wear a mask if they choose.
• Patients may ask healthcare workers caring for them to wear a mask.

Suburban Community Hospital experts continually assess the level of risk due to SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal respiratory viruses as they evolve. We will update these guidelines accordingly.

Masking For Standard and Transmission-based Precautions and PPE Plan

Masking may be required for patients, staff, and visitors when part of the standard and transmission-based precautions (isolation precautions) and the COVID-19 PPE Plan, including for positive COVID-19 patients.

The following safety procedures are in place at Suburban Community Hospital:

*Masks will be required when in the presence of our patients– regardless of their vaccination status

*If you do not have a surgical mask, we will provide one.

*Visitors may not use the restrooms in the patient room. Visitors should use public restrooms.

*Please note the mask must cover your nose and mouth

Inpatient Visiting Hours:

11:00 a.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 two visitors or two support people at one time 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 have one visitor or one support person at a time. 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 do not comply with these rules will be asked to leave the premises.

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.

For Medical Records questions, please click here

Suburban Community Hospital is a smoke-free campus in East Norriton. Patients and visitors are not permitted to smoke anywhere on the hospital grounds, including vehicles. Our campus is smoke-free to protect the health and wellness of patients, visitors, and colleagues.

During your stay, we strive to provide you with excellent clinical care delivered with compassion and respect.

Visitor Guidelines

We encourage loved ones to visit patients and make every effort to provide a safe and comfortable environment for our patients and visitors. While receiving care, patients have the right to decide who may or may not visit. Those visitors are allowed without regard to race, color, national origin, language, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or socioeconomic status.

Our staff and caregivers understand the important role that visitors and support persons play. Every effort ensures that our patients’ support person is embraced as a valued care team member.

• To safeguard the comfort of all our patients, visitors are asked to talk quietly and leave promptly when visiting hours have ended.
• The visiting times and/or the number of visitors may be limited in certain circumstances – and vary unit by unit – to protect our patient’s health, safety, and privacy.
• If visitors are not feeling well or have an illness that can be transferred to our patients, please refrain from visiting.
• Visitors must follow infection control precautions, keep noise to a minimum, refrain from taking photographs or videos, and comply with restrictions on smoking, alcohol and illegal substances.
• Before entering and after leaving your loved one’s room, make sure to wash your hands.
• All children must be in the company of a responsible adult and may not be left unattended.

To ensure the well-being and safety of our patients and caregivers, we ask you to please follow our visitation policy:

• Suburban Community Hospital does not allow visitors under the age of 13. Exceptions to this policy can be made by the treating healthcare provider for end-of-life and other humanitarian situations.
• For the sake of all our patients, please do not visit if you are sick. If you have a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, please postpone your visit until you feel better.
• Visits should be kept short. Visitors should maintain a quiet environment and avoid unnecessary noise.
• Visitors may be asked to leave the room during tests or treatments or when the doctor or nurse needs to see the patient.