Over the past several months, you have all seen or heard much about COVID-19 in California. We recognize that situations such as this can create fear and anxiety and our best way to address that is through communication, education and preparation. Below you will find information to answer the questions or concerns you might have.
Hospital Appointments
Yes, it is safe to have a surgery at the hospital. The safety of our patients, family and staff is of the utmost importance to us. Rest assured that we are following all infection control policies and the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in treating patients.
If you are significantly ill and need to be seen, it is very important to call your healthcare provider before you come to the Emergency Department so that they can direct you to the most appropriate care, and take precautions to protect other patients, visitors, and employees. Tests are only available for patients who have been screened and are suspected of having the virus. For additional information about Coronavirus, and to discuss possible screening, please contact the City of Long Beach Coronavirus Hotline at (562) 570-4636.
Yes, it is safe to go to the hospital or clinic appointment to receive medical care. MemorialCare's Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach have implemented visitor restrictions during this time, to help diminish the spread of the virus and to keep our patients safe. Adult patients should not bring visitors or children with them to their appointments. Pediatric patients should be accompanied by only (1) one parent/legal guardian.
Also, due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, we are maximizing “social distancing” and decreasing all non-urgent interactions. We recommend that you call your physician’s office to determine if you should keep your visit.
We have been vigilant with the health of our staff who are caring for the patient, including following the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines regarding exposure to patients with novel coronavirus. Staff are following all infection control requirements, including wearing masks, face shield/eye protection, gloves, gowns and other protective measures. If anyone is suspected of contracting the virus, they are asked to stay home and self-quarantine.
COVID-19 is a new disease, one that has not been previously seen in humans. While we don’t know everything about COVID-19, there’s much we do know. First, the symptoms are generally more severe than typical respiratory infections.
The most common symptoms are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. COVID-19 can also cause sore throat, diarrhea, muscle aches, loss of taste and smell.. If you think you’ve been exposed and develop these symptoms, call your doctor for medical advice. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that you do not go to the emergency room or urgent care center if you have mild illness. Instead, you should self-isolate at home.
Emergency warning signs requiring immediate medical attention are difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or inability to wake up, or bluish lips. If you have any of these symptoms go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
We cannot share information with you or anyone on any of our patients. The safety of our patients, family and staff is of the utmost importance to us. You can be assured that our staff is treating all of our patients in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. This includes extensive training and equipping our staff with protective equipment, supplies and procedures to prevent the spread of the disease.
If you are not presenting any symptoms and have not traveled outside of the country, there is no need to get tested. If you have symptoms such as a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, we encourage you to call your doctor’s office for guidance.
We are caring for any suspected patients or positive patients while safeguarding our patients, their families and visitors and our healthcare professionals. Anyone who may have been in contact with a suspected patient before they were identified will be contacted by the medical center.
Upon checking in, patients will be screened and masked if necessary. You will see hospital staff wear a mask as they are ensuring compliance with our hospital flu vaccination policy. Rest assured that your healthcare providers are in good health, as we require staff to stay home if they have symptoms or are ill.
Right now, health care workers at MemorialCare have the gear they need to protect themselves and others as they care for patients with COVID-19. But with the number of COVID-19 patients rising daily, and with outpouring of generosity from the community, MemorialCare is accepting help from employers and the community willing to donate supplies. This helps ensure supplies will be ready if needed in the coming days and weeks to protect staff and patients. Information on donations being accepted and where to drop them off can be found on our website at www.memorialcare.org/donations-needed.
Hospital Visitor Guidelines:
The visitation guidelines listed below may be restricted, or hours limited at the discretion of hospital leadership to ensure the safety of patients, staff, physicians, and visitors.
At MemorialCare, we pride ourselves on being a patient- and family-centered organization and know in-person visits provide support and reassurance for patients and families alike. The COVID-19 pandemic is a difficult time for all of us. Times have changed quickly and dramatically due to the virus. As a patient-centered hospital, we must do everything we can to prevent the spread of this disease. Below are temporary COVID-19 visiting guidelines for MemorialCare Hospitals. These are general guidelines; at any time, visitation may be restricted, or hours limited at the discretion of hospital leadership to ensure the safety of patients, staff, physicians, and visitors. All visitation is subject to the ability to maintain social distancing and visitors complying with these guidelines.
In addition to the guidelines below, The California Department of Public Health requires the hospital to verify the vaccination status of each visitor. MemorialCare will screen each visitor to verify they are fully vaccinated or have verified documentation of a negative SARS-CoV-2 test within 72 hours of the visit. Limited emergent exceptions may apply for support persons visiting critical care patients, pediatric and NICU patients, labor and delivery patients and patients with physical, intellectual, developmental disability and special assistance needs.
- Minors: Minors, including siblings, must be 16 years and above to visit. Exceptions may be made on a case-by case basis by campus leadership and infection prevention.
- End-of-Life: Any patient who is at the end of life may have up to two (2) designated visitors unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors. Visitation may increase on a case-by case basis.
- Emergency Department: Pediatric patients may have one (1) visitor and up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis. Adult patients may have one (1) visitor at a time, although this may be restricted to no visitation during high patient volumes to ensure the safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors.
- Pediatric Outpatients: Patients in pediatric departments may have one (1) visitor and up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis; visitor must be designated parent/legal guardian or support person(s)at a time unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors.
- Pediatric Inpatients: May have one (1) visitor and up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis; visitor must be designated parent/legal guardian or support person(s) unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff physicians and visitors.
- Neonatal Intensive Care Patients: May have one (1) visitor and up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis; visitor must be parent/legal guardian support persons unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff physicians and visitors. COVID positive parents are generally restricted in the NICU; exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.
- Maternity Patients: Laboring, Antepartum & Postpartum patients may have up to one support person visit per hospital stay who must remain in the room. A Certified Doula may be present and must comply with PPE and infection control guidelines. Doula visitation occurs during labor and up to 2 hours post-delivery. Visitation may be further limited as indicated by staff to ensure the safety of patients, staff, physicians, and visitors.
- OB Outpatient: Patients in ambulatory OB departments may have one support person visit if space permits or unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors.
- Adult Inpatients: At this time, we are pausing all visitation for adult inpatients except for patients who are at end-of-life, patients requiring special assistance, or other extenuating circumstances as approved by hospital leadership.
- Surgical/Procedural Patients: Patients undergoing a surgery or procedure may have one (1) visitor and up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors. There will be no general visitation in the PACU, and Pre-op visits will be determined on a case-by-case basis
- Patients who require special assistance: Altered, dependent, and patients with cognitive impairments may have one (1) visitor and up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors.
- Patients that are COVID+ or suspected COVID: No general visitation is allowed. Exceptions include End of Life, Maternity Partner in Care, Pediatric, NICU and on a case-by case basis.
- Adult Outpatients: All other adult outpatient areas will follow these guidelines unless otherwise specified by the department leadership.
Each visitor entering a MemorialCare facility must comply with the following:
- Wear a face mask (procedural mask required in patient areas) that covers the entire mouth and nose when entering the facility and must always wear a procedural mask while in patient care areas. The only exception is if visitors are eating or drinking; when their mask is off, they must stay at least 6 feet apart from other individuals. Visitors should use the same mask throughout the day unless discarding is indicated by isolation precautions
- Complete screening each time entering the facility, and disclose, any symptoms of illness including fever, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, new loss of smell or taste, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Visitors with symptoms of illness, including fever, will not be permitted to visit. Once screened, the visitor must go directly to the assigned room of their family member
- Practice social distancing by remaining 6 feet apart from others whenever possible
- Visitors should wash their hands frequently, upon entering the room, leaving the room, before and after eating, and before and after using the restroom
- Visitors are only permitted in hospital approved common areas
- Meals: Visitors may bring a meal with them in an airtight container. We are unable to refrigerate visitors’ meal containers, so food should be able to remain at room temperature. If a visitor is unable to bring food with them, they may leave the campus for a meal. They will need to be rescreened on re-entry to the hospital
- Remain in the patient’s room or designated waiting areas except when accompanying the patient for approved activities. Once the visitor leaves the patient room or waiting areas, they must immediately exit the facility
Note: These guidelines are for the protection of patients, staff, and visitors. Visitation is a privilege. Anyone who does not follow this guidance is subject to removal from the facility with further visiting privileges rescinded. Thank you in advance for your full cooperation. Any exceptions to these guidelines must be approved by administration or designee prior to visitation.
Adult inpatients may have one (1) visitor and up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis who must remain in the room for the duration of the visit unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors.
Patients undergoing a surgery or procedure may have one (1) visitor and up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors. There will be no general visitation in the PACU, and Pre-op visits will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Pediatric patients may have one (1) visitor and up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis. Adult patients may have one (1) visitor at a time, although this may be restricted to no visitation during high patient volumes to ensure the safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors.
Laboring, Antepartum & Postpartum patients may have up to one support person visit per hospital stay who must remain in the room. A Certified Doula may be present and must comply with PPE and infection control guidelines. Doula visitation occurs during labor and up to 2 hours post-delivery. Visitation may be further limited as indicated by staff to ensure the safety of patients, staff, physicians, and visitors
Patients in ambulatory OB departments may have one support person visit if space permits or unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors.
May have one (1) visitor and up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis; visitor must be parent/legal guardian support persons unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff physicians and visitors. COVID positive parents are generally restricted in the NICU; exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.
May have one (1) visitor and up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis; visitor must be designated parent/legal guardian or support person(s) unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff physicians and visitors.
Patients in pediatric departments may have one (1) visitor and up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis; visitor must be designated parent/legal guardian or support person(s)at a time unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors.
Any patient who is at the end of life may have two (2) visitors.
Altered, dependent, and patients with cognitive impairments may have one (1) visitor and up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors.
No general visitation is allowed. Exceptions include End of Life, Maternity Partner in Care, Pediatric, NICU and on a case-by case basis.
MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute Appointments
In an effort to keep our patients and staff well, we are seeing patients with urgent cases only and are rescheduling all other cases. Your referring physician will be able to determine if they feel you should come in. Please reach out to your referring physician.
Your Oncologist/Radiation Oncologist will partner with you to determine the best time for you to start based on your diagnosis and specific needs.
We will contact you if telehealth (where you speak with your physician over the phone or use a video chat option) is an option for your appointment.
In most cases, radiation therapy does not make you more vulnerable to contract COVID-19. You may have other factors that contribute to your susceptibility, such as age, respiratory issues or chemotherapy. We encourage you to discuss your concerns with your Radiation Oncologist.
General COVID-19 Information
Like other illnesses, you can protect yourself from the novel coronavirus by maintaining the same practices that you use during flu season or whenever you encounter someone with respiratory illness.
- Wear a mask when out in public
- Practice good hand hygiene
- Cover your cough, use your elbows, not your hands
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Avoid close contact, when possible, with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness
- Stay at home if you are ill
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipes
- Stay informed – check the Center for Disease Control (CDC) site regularly for new updates
COVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning how it spreads. For the latest information visit the CDC’s Pregnancy and Breastfeeding page: Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Covid-19 FAQ
MHA: Mental Health And COVID-19 – Information And Resources
For additional information about Coronavirus, please contact the City of Long Beach Coronavirus Hotline at (562) 570-4636