Area Hospitals Implement Procedures For COVID-19

The Levittown area’s three hospitals have implemented procedures to keep staff and patients safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Starting Monday morning, Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol Township started allowing only one visitor per patient and blocked children from visiting.

The hospital will allow access to the Community Health Center and Surgery Center through the main lobby. The emergency room will continue operating but will have visitor restrictions.

Staff will also screen visitors and patients for COVID-19 by asking questions and taking their temperature.

“These plans are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of staff, patients, physicians, volunteers and community members who visit our hospital. We are fully staffed with medical professionals who are available to treat all types of patients,” hospital spokesperson Michelle Aliprantis said.

She stated Lower Bucks Hospital has additional plans in place if the number of COVID-19 patients in the area increases. However, she noted the hospital is not treating any COVID-19 patients at this time.

St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown, which is part of the Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic system, began restricting visitation to patients starting over the weekend. The policy includes no inpatient visitors and all visitors that are approved are to be screened by hospital staff.

The hospital stated that doctor-approved exceptions for visitors may be made for end-of-life or maternity patients.

“In alignment with CDC guidance, we have discontinued all of events and classes so we are able to reassign staff members to other areas of the hospital. In addition, we have implemented processes to assess the ability to have colleagues work from home,” said Ann D’Antonio, vice president of marketing and communications for the health system.

Jefferson Health, which operates Jefferson Bucks Hospital in Falls Township, has limited patient visitors to no more than two people in a patient area at a time. They are expecting visitors to wear protective equipment at all times.

County officials have raised concern that an influx of COVID-19 cases could overwhelm hospitals. They have said St. Mary Medical Center and Doylestown Hospital have voluntarily begun to set up overflow screening areas if they are needed.

Medical centers have stepped up their cleaning procedures this month as COVID-19 cases have increased.

Over the past week, officials urged people who feel sick to call ahead and receive advise from health care professionals before heading to medical facilities.

Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies