Visiting Hours

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Visiting Hours

We encourage parents to visit 24/7, as long as possible. Parents must be present in the room at 6:45 AM/6:45 PM or will be asked to wait until after report. Hours for alternate caregivers as designated by parents are between 8:00 AM – 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM – 6:45 AM.

All other visitors must be accompanied by a parent between 8:00 AM – 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Sibling visits are limited to 20 minutes.

During cold and flu season, please note that only visitors 13 years and older are allowed to enter the NICU.
 

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Visiting Hours

Parents, grandparents and significant others may visit anytime. Visitors should use the telephone provided outside the unit to identify themselves prior to entry. The nurse may alter the visitation rules in order to meet the individual needs of the patient and/or the parents.
 

Infection Prevention

• Hand Hygiene: Hand hygiene (hand washing or alcohol gel hand rub) is the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection. Your child’s nurse will educate visitors about hand hygiene procedures. Click here to learn more about Valley Children's dedication to hand hygiene.
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): Typically during the cold and flu season, Valley Children's Hospital will declare visitor restrictions due to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Some of these viruses can cause severe complications in children who may already have other health problems. During RSV season, children 12 years old and younger are not allowed to visit the Hospital in patient care areas. The goal of this action is to prevent visiting children from infecting hospitalized children with the RSV virus. Additionally, it also protects visiting children from being infected by hospital bound patients. This action is necessary to protect the health of families and the well being of hospitalized children and staff. Click here for the RSV brochure in English
• Wellness Wristbands: We ask that you check in at the Information Center at the main entrance or enter the Emergency Department when the main entrance is closed. Children under the age of 13 who are visiting are asked about their health in case they are contagious to others. A Wellness Wristband is issued to all visiting children and must be worn at all times while at the hospital.
   

Flowers & Gifts

Friends and family are welcome to send flowers, cards and other gifts to patients staying at Valley Children's Hospital. Depending on the inpatient unit, there may be some restrictions, so please check with the nurse. No live plants or flowers are allowed in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Latex balloons are not allowed in the hospital but Mylar (foil) balloons are acceptable. Please be careful with balloon strings and weights as they can choke small children.

Mailing information:
Patient's Name
Room Number
Valley Children's Hospital 
9300 Valley Children's Place
Madera, CA 93636-8762 
 

Fire Safety

In the unlikely event of a fire emergency, you will hear an alarm followed by an announcement of CODE RED. If this happens, please stay with your child in your child's room and wait for instructions from a staff member. Our entire staff is fully trained to respond to emergency situations. Valley Children's Hospital has routine fire drills so that we can rapidly respond to emergencies.
 

Smoking Policy

To provide a healthy healing environment for our patients, Valley Children’s Hospital is a “No Smoking” facility.