New York. - The advocacy and policy organization OJPAC launched a new round of advertising and outreach advocating that full patient rights should be restored at all hospitals, at all times, through expanding the number of hours that patients can have loved ones at their bedside for practical and emotional support.

In the early days of the pandemic, OJPAC decried the inhumane rule that bars loved ones from being with their ill relatives; a decree which undoubtedly led to pain, delay in recovery, and to overwhelm hospital staff who suddenly found themselves responding to needs of patients once addressed by family and friends. Governor Andrew Cuomo first responded by launching a pilot program permitting some access at fourteen hospitals. OJPAC, in conjunction with patient rights advocates, kept pushing and visitation was then expanded to 4 hours per day at all hospitals in New York. Those were welcome moves, but they are not nearly enough for patients suffering alone without practical help and emotional support needed while bedridden in the hospital.

As more and more front-line workers are being vaccinated, millions of people having developed antibodies, and tests and PPE are more widely available, it is time to end the painful policy of keeping patients alone for most hours of the day, which strains hospital staff and leads to frustration and disappointing outcomes for patients and their loved ones.

OJPAC is renewing its initiative of restoring patents rights by utilizing tools such as paid ads, social media efforts, government outreach, and coordination with stake holders. Within a short period of posting its latest commercial on Twitter, OJPAC’s newest ad generated more than 20,000 views in organic traffic - because this cause hits home for so many people. The movement uses the hashtag #NoPatientLeftAlone. 

To support this effort please use the aforementioned hashtag on Social Media, contact state legislators to ask for a change in policy, and please consider donating funds at www.OJPAC.org/campaign.