Allegheny Health Network limits visitation at hospitals

Allegheny Health Network is making changes to its visitation policy at area hospitals in response to the rising cases of the novel coronavirus across the United States.

The temporary restrictions were announced Wednesday and limit the number of visitors for a patient to one person at a time in the patient’s hospital room, according to a statement from the health system.

The policy is intended to protect patients and caregivers from both influenza and covid-19, the illness caused by coronavirus.

“At a time of heightened public health concerns related to both covid-19 and a particularly severe influenza season, it is critical that we take every step possible to protect our patients and caregivers from the risk of exposure to infectious disease,” Dr. Brian Parker, AHN Chief Quality Officer, said in a statement. “Patient and caregiver safety is our highest priority and we greatly appreciate the support and cooperation of visitors in the efforts we are making to minimize health risks to their loved ones.”

UPMC has not yet announced changes to its visitation policies and representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this week, UPMC officials encouraged people who have flu-like symptoms to refrain from visiting its facilities.

AHN is also asking visitors who think they might be sick not to visit health system hospitals unless they are seeking medical treatment, the statement said. AHN operates 10 hospitals in the region, including flagships Allegheny General on Pittsburgh’s North Side and West Penn in the Bloomfield section of the city.

There were 14 presumptive positive cases of covid-19 in Pennsylvania, all in the eastern part of the state, as of Wednesday morning, according to figures released by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.