Wayne Memorial to Allow Visitors Again

(Honesdale, February 15, 2021)… With the COVID numbers declining in the community and in the hospital’s COVID unit, Wayne Memorial Hospital is allowing a limited number of visitors again, though still restricting visiting hours from 9am – to – 6pm.

Approximately three months after prohibiting all visitors except in special circumstances, Wayne Memorial is returning to its policy of last summer, now permitting “one healthy and designated visitor” in most units. Patients will be asked to designate who can visit them, and 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.

“Wayne Memorial recognizes the importance of visitors for our patients,” said WMH CEO David Hoff.  “In fact, before the pandemic, our hospital was open 24/7 to visitors. We hope to return to that one day in the near future, but caution is still the prevailing mode.”

Wayne Memorial will continue all its infection control procedures throughout the hospital, including 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.

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.

The hospital’s full updated visitor policy can be found at Visitor Information | General Visiting Hours | Wayne Memorial Hospital (wmh.org).

Wayne Memorial Hospital services, such as the Emergency Department, Laboratory and Radiology/Imaging Services continue to operate around the clock.