EAST NORRITON â After a year of pandemic protocols keeping visitors out of hospitals to protect patients, their family members and hospital staff from the spread of the coronavirus, restrictions have been lifting at area facilities in recent months. âThe ability of patients to have visitors, whether it be family, a friend, clergy or a support person, is really an important part of the healing process,â noted Beth Duffy, Chief Operating Officer of Einstein Medical Center Montgomery. âWith COVID, it was one of the first things that we took a pretty hard stance on and we closed all visitations. A year ago at this time we were not permitting any visitors into our facility, and that was a 180-degree turn from what we previously had because we had 14-hour visitation. We shut it down completely, and it was very difficult for the patients, it was very difficult for the staff and in particular for COVID patients who were feeling very isolated. It was extremely hard for patients who were at end of life or in situations where families had to make very difficult decisions; it was heart-wrenching.â