Patient Information

Mount Nittany Health is committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of its community.

Beginning July 27, Mount Nittany Health will permit one visitor per inpatient at Mount Nittany Medical Center during visiting hours, 2:00 – 6:00 pm daily. Additionally, a support person/caregiver may accompany patients of our emergency department at the Medical Center, Mount Nittany Physician Group, Mount Nittany Health Surgical Center, CANCER CARE PARTNERSHIP, and outpatient Medical Center locations.

The women & children’s services department at the Medical Center will continue its practice of permitting one support person to accompany patients in labor & delivery. The behavioral health unit will not be permitting visitors at this time.

For outpatient and surgical procedures, caregivers will be asked to wait in their vehicle but may be with the patient until the start of the procedure and assist with discharge instructions. Please be aware, there may be other select circumstances where caregivers are asked to wait in their vehicles as well.

Within Mount Nittany Health facilities, measures have been taken including special cleaning, masking and screening. As an additional measure, visitors will be provided a colored wristband upon checking in at the front desk of the emergency department or Medical Center, where a screening will be performed by a member of our staff. Visitors are also asked to stop by the front desk to check out at the end of their visit. If a visitor does not have a mask, one will be provided. Any visitor who does not pass the screening process will be informed of the policy and be asked to wait in their vehicle or return home.

Persons under investigation for COVID-19 and positive COVID-19 patients will not be permitted to have visitors. We recognize that interacting with friends and family can be helpful to the healing process; therefore, we are strongly encouraging using alternative means of support like phone calls or video chats on cellphones or other mobile devices.

We are sensitive to the separation this restriction creates for our patients and families, but we strongly believe continuing to limit the number of people in our facilities is essential to keeping our patients and staff safe.

Patients with questions regarding visitation at the Medical Center should call 814.231.7000. Mount Nittany Physician Group patients are asked to call their practice or outpatient office.

At Mount Nittany Health, the safety of our patients and staff is always our priority. Our COVID-19 policies and practices are updated as we see changes to conditions in the community and in CDC and DOH guidelines for the care, safety and placement of our patients. These are some of our current practices:

• COVID testing is required of patients three days prior to surgery.
• COVID testing is required of women preparing to deliver a baby.
• All patients will be screened for COVID-19, which includes a temperature check, including patients admitted to the hospital.
• We have policies in place regarding room assignments of COVID-positive inpatients.
  • Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are assigned a room based on a combination of factors following CDC and DOH guidelines.
  • No visitors are allowed to visit patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
  • Single-patient room placement is prioritized for our inpatients whenever possible; however, a hospitalized COVID-19 patient may be roomed with another patient confirmed to also have COVID-19.
• For the safety of our patients and staff, all patients and visitors are required to wear masks.

Mount Nittany Health conducts screenings of patients entering its facilities. This screening process is another measure that we are taking to protect our patients, staff and community against the spread of COVID-19. The screening process will include key questions based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Approved visitors/caregivers to the emergency department, Mount Nittany Physician Group, CANCER CARE PARTNERSHIP and outpatient Medical Center locations will undergo a screening process and be required to wear a mask for the duration of their stay. If a visitor does not have a mask, one will be provided. Any visitor who does not pass the screening process will be informed of the policy and be asked to wait in his or her vehicle or return home. Our team will work as quickly as possible to safely and effectively complete the screenings; please prepare accordingly and allow extra time for this process.

As an additional measure to protect patients, staff and community members against the spread of COVID-19, Mount Nittany Health is extending its masking requirement to patients and essential caregivers at all Mount Nittany Health off-site locations, including all Mount Nittany Physician Group offices. This is an extension of patient and visitor masking requirements already in place at Mount Nittany Medical Center.

All patients and essential caregivers must wear a mask when accessing a Mount Nittany Health off-site facility. Patients who are feeling short of breath or are otherwise unable to tolerate a mask and children under the age of 2 will not be required to wear a mask.

Patients and essential caregivers are encouraged to wear their own masks from home. If needed, masks will be provided by the health system’s screening teams before patients and essential caregivers enter the facility; the masks should be reused as long as possible.

Screening procedures at all entrances

Mount Nittany Health is committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of its patients, staff and community. We are prepared for potential infectious disease outbreaks — whether measles, flu or new viruses like coronavirus — as part of our commitment to prevent disease and ensure a healthy community for all. We rigorously follow the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health for screening and testing patients for COVID-19, ensuring all levels of protection for our patients, staff and community.

As the situation continues to evolve, we have taken steps to prepare and protect our community, including limiting visitors in our facilities at Mount Nittany Health, except for special circumstances, test collection sites, screening process and rescheduling of all nonessential/elective services. We continue to evaluate and will announce further measures as needed, with the focus being on our community’s health and wellbeing.

Test collection sites

COVID-19 test collection site at Mount Nittany Health - Blue Course Drive

COVID-19 test collection site at Mount Nittany Health - Mifflin County