(Madera, California) - Keeping children safe is our top priority at Valley Children’s Hospital. With the influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season at its peak right now, we continue to take steps to protect our kids and limit their exposure to infections.
During times of high patient volumes, Valley Children’s Emergency Department (ED) may put a “one caregiver” policy into effect. During these times, only one parent/guardian is allowed to stay in the main ED waiting room with their child. We ask that all other family and friends wait in a different location – we have designated an area of our Grape Jellyfish Café for this purpose. We recognize the inconvenience of only allowing one parent/guardian with the patient in the main ED waiting area and thank you for helping us keep your children’s health the top priority.
We again strongly encourage only healthy visitors of any age to enter Valley Children’s Hospital. Visitors will be screened at all entrances for signs and symptoms of illness, regardless of age. If a visitor is ill, that person will need to return when symptoms are gone.
Our Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) at Valley Children’s Hospital, Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, Adventist Health Hanford and Mercy Medical Center in Merced will continue to restrict all visitors 12 years and younger, in addition to anyone with respiratory symptoms (including coughs, sneezing and congestion), due to the medically fragile conditions of our NICU patients.
Valley Children’s is committed to providing high-quality, family-centered and compassionate care to our kids. We greatly appreciate your understanding and support of these policies.