Allegheny Health Network Tightens Patient Visitor Restrictions

PITTSBURGH, PA - Allegheny Health Network has implemented additional measures to further restrict patient visitation at its hospitals in an attempt to slow the growing coronavirus outbreak. Effective immediately, all visitors will be screened at Allegheny Health Network entrances to assess their risk of having COVID-19 and other infectious respiratory illnesses.

The tightened restrictions come less than a week after the health network's hospitals began limiting the number of visitors that can be in a patient's room to one at a time.

Until further notice, visitors at all health network hospital entrances will be screened and asked if they have traveled domestically or internationally in the last 14 days and asked if they have a cough or fever. Those answering yes to either question will be denied admittance into the hospital.

“With the first documented cases of COVID-19 in our region this week, we continue to look at every opportunity to further safeguard our patients and caregivers during this challenging time for our community,” Dr. Brian Parker, the health network's chief quality officer, said in a statement.

“It is abundantly clear that one effective way to prevent the spread of illness in a health care facility is to limit the number of people who are visiting patients and interacting with caregivers. We understand this is a temporary inconvenience for our patient’s friends and family members,
but it’s one that we believe is in the very best interests of everyone.”