As a large academic health system and a national leader with deep experience caring for patients with diseases of all kinds, Penn Medicine, which includes Chester County Hospital, is always at the ready to respond to global public health issues.

Penn Medicine staff are fully prepared to evaluate and care for patients who may be infected with COVID-19 disease, while taking the strongest possible precautions to ensure the health and safety of all other patients, their families, and staff.

Penn Medicine is following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations for evaluation of patients who may be at risk of developing this new virus. Teams throughout the health system are working closely with leaders from the CDC, the Pennsylvania and New Jersey departments of health, and local health officials to monitor and respond to this evolving situation.

Strict Visitation and Facility Access Policy

A strict visitation policy is in effect at each of Penn Medicine’s hospitals and outpatient facilities to protect the health of patients and staff during the COVID-19 outbreak.

In inpatient facilities, no visitors will be permitted except under special circumstances. These include:

• Visitation of a patient nearing the end of life
• Parent visitation of a child in our intensive care nurseries
• One coach or partner for each patient on our labor and delivery units
• One visitor at a time for patients in inpatient hospice units
• One parent at a time for pediatric patients
• One visitor to accompany patients for hospital discharge

For all outpatient appointments:

• One visitor will be permitted to accompany a patient to facilitate care or treatment such as an ambulatory visit, procedure, or same-day surgery

No child under the age of 12 years will be permitted to visit under any circumstances.

Health screening procedures will be required in circumstances where a visitor is allowed by exception.

Please speak with a member of the staff for more information.

Priority Scheduling of Medically Necessary Appointments and Procedures

In an effort to protect patients and staff and to prioritize the needs of those who may require immediate care, Penn Medicine will be rescheduling some patient appointments and procedures over the next two weeks. You will be contacted directly if your outpatient visit, procedure, or surgery is postponed until a later date.

Penn Medicine will also be working to move some patients to virtual visits and home care, as appropriate. During this time, all Penn Medicine facilities will remain open in order to care for patients who require in-person visits and time-sensitive care.

Symptoms of COVID-19

Symptoms of this virus are very similar to other seasonal respiratory ailments like colds and influenza – they can include fever, cough, runny nose and difficulty breathing. Importantly, most patients with COVID-19 have only mild, flu-like, and respiratory symptoms and do not require hospitalization.

If you have respiratory or flu symptoms, please call your doctor’s office ahead of time. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, they may provide special instructions or — if appropriate — connect you with Penn Medicine’s 24/7 online care practice, Penn Medicine On Demand, for a virtual visit.

For very severe symptoms like trouble breathing, call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room.

Seeking Treatment for COVID-19

COVID-19 testing is not right for every patient with respiratory symptoms. Physicians are guided in their testing decisions by each patient’s unique situation and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s screening guidance. Your doctor can determine whether this type of testing would be necessary.

Penn Medicine patients can also contact Penn Medicine OnDemand for a virtual visit. To schedule, call 215-615-2222. If you are a myPennMedicine user, you can also schedule using the MyPennMedicine app.

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