Lehigh Valley Health Network

Birth center restrictions announced

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) has updated visitation guidelines for the family birth and newborn centers .

No visitation will be permitted in the triage area. Unless delivery appears imminent, anyone who accompanies patients to the hospital will be asked to wait in their car (not in a waiting room) or leave the campus and return for pickup if the patient is discharged. One support person will be permitted to accompany the patient if she is admitted for delivery.

Visitation will still be permitted on labor and delivery and mother-baby units with the following guidance: completion of health screening procedures will be performed for all patients and visitors before entering the unit. All patients who present to our units will continue to receive appropriate medical and obstetrical care. Visitors who have a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 or who meet any of the criteria listed below for suspected COVID-19 will be prohibited from entering the family birth and newborn centers. Additional restrictions prohibiting visitors from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and other areas as designated by the CDC or other governing bodies will be imposed until further notice. Patients from these regions may have a visitor who has not been in these high-risk areas. Photo ID as proof of address may be requested.

Suspected COVID-19 patients for the purpose of maternal/newborn care at LVHN are defined as: COVID-19 testing pending, high risk exposure to someone with confirmed COVID-19 (less than six feet for more than two minutes); symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 infection, including fever, cough and shortness of breath; under quarantine for travel, including international travel or relocation from greater New York City area (inclusive of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) and other areas as designated by the CDC or other governing bodies (14 days required). Visitors will undergo daily temperature and assessment of symptoms monitoring during the hospital stay. Visitors will bring their own mask (a clean, dry, freshly laundered cloth mask is acceptable) to be worn at all times in the hospital. One consistent person shall remain through the entire stay; if they leave the hospital, they may not return. Visitors will remain in the patient room for the entirety of the stay except to visit newborn admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU); meals can be provided for visitors by patient food services. If the mother is a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient and separation with newborn is performed as recommended by CDC, the visitor cannot move between mother’s isolation room and newborn isolation room/nursery. Ideally, the visitor for mother in labor and delivery becomes the newborn visitor and no longer visits the mother; a new visitor for mother is not advised. If the mother and newborn are co-located in one room, then the visitor stays in the room with both of them, primarily to provide newborn care.

Visitors who do not or cannot adhere to these rules will be asked to leave the premises for the protection of a high-risk population. Another visitor will not be allowed to replace him/her.

Patients will also be required to wear masks, preferably their own brought from home, including freshly washed cloth masks. If they do not bring a mask, one will be provided for them. While staff at LVHN are using universal PPE, we recognize that contamination of physical surfaces can occur by patients and visitors with no symptoms.

Additional information is available by visiting LVHN.org, or following us on Facebook and Twitter.

ExpressCare sites open

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) ExpressCARE opened April 1 at two new locations-the former EmergiCenter sites on Cedar Crest Boulevard. and Airport Road, both in Allentown. The EmergiCenters located at 1101 Cedar Crest Blvd. and 1791 Airport Road have reopened as LVHN ExpressCARE. These locations will provide walk-in care without an appointment for minor illnesses and injuries such as sprains, strains, seasonal allergies, cold, flu, poison ivy/rashes, bronchitis, ear infections and many others. Additionally, they will offer x-ray services.

Rehab services offered online

LVHN Rehabilitation Services is introducing E-visits and LVHN Video Visits for rehabilitation patients. E-Visits are offered through the patient portal, MyLVHN. These convenient and secure email visits will provide current patients of LVHN Rehabilitation Services the opportunity to seek medical advice on techniques to manage injury-related symptoms while at home or seek guidance on their home exercise program. All physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy E-Visits will be answered by a licensed rehabilitation provider. Learn more at LVHN.org/MyLVHN.

Office closings result in 900 furloughs

Lehigh Valley Health Network is temporarily closing 150 Lehigh Valley Physician Group practice locations because of COVID-19, resulting in 900 furloughs.

Dr. Michael Rossi, president of LVPG, says reduced in-person office visits is the reason for the furloughs.

The health network has already made significant changes to hospital visitation policies, employee temperature screenings, reduced ambulatory surgeries, diagnostic testing and other ambulatory services. “Now, Lehigh Valley Physician Group, our physician practice, is adapting to keep everyone safe and continue to ensure they get the care they need when they need it,” Rossi said.

Rossi says the group is reducing in-person visits to offices and increasing virtual care services. Rossi says LVPG is making changes to assure its patients can be seen safely, and that caregivers are available to help with the expected increase in COVID-19 patients.