Wayne Memorial to Allow Visitors

(Honesdale, June 17, 2020)….Less than a week after its home base, Wayne County, was moved into Governor Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 Green Phase, Wayne Memorial Hospital is being re-opened to visitors— with precautions. From no visitors allowed, the hospital is now permitting “one healthy and designated visitor” in most units. Visiting hours, however, which were 24/7 before the pandemic, are restricted to 9am to 6pm.

“Wayne Memorial recognizes the importance of visitors for our patients, particularly the most vulnerable ones,” said WMH CEO David Hoff, “but we believe we should walk before we run.” Hoff noted that the hospital’s COVID patient population decreased to zero for several weeks, and none of its healthcare workers contracted the disease on the job.

Wayne Memorial instituted a number of infection control procedures during the pandemic which will remain in place. These include limited access to the hospital, temperature taking and screening of all who enter, social distancing measures in waiting areas and enhanced sanitization protocols.

The hospital’s main entrance, will still close at 4pm for now,  at which time visitors can use the Emergency Department entrance..

All visitors must follow infection control guidelines, such as wearing a face mask and agreeing to remain in a patient’s room and not visit other areas of the hospital. Patients will be asked to designate who can visit them.

Two people are now allowed to visit end-of-life patients (non-COVID patients), and two parents (or authorized representatives) are permitted in infant/pediatric units.

Some units still have more restricted visitation rules. Visitors to the Intensive Care unit and COVID-containment unit will be permitted only under special circumstances, such as care planning activities and end-of- life situations.  Same Day Surgery patients may have one designated person accompany them, but he/she would need to remain in a waiting area during surgery and recovery periods.

The hospital’s skilled nursing facility in Waymart, Wayne Woodlands Manor, remains closed to visitors.

Wayne Memorial Hospital reopened most of its services in May, including outpatient diagnostic services both at the hospital and at off-site facilities.

For a complete list of visitation policies for specific units, visit wmh.org/covid-19-novel-coronavirus or click on the Visitors tab at the top of the home page.