A Message to Our Patients About COVID-19

*Visitation guidelines may vary based on individual hospital or county circumstances.

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 person visiting hospital inpatients. 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.

Effective March 7, 2022 we have changed visitation to:

• 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 (switching out allowed if unit able to accommodate). Adult patients may have one (1) visitor (switching out allowed if unit able to accommodate), 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 outpatient departments may have one (1) visitor; visitor must be limited to two designated parent/legal guardian or support person throughout the hospitalization) as designated by the parent/legal guardian unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors.
• Pediatric Inpatients: May have one (1) visitor; visitor must be limited to two designated parent/legal guardian or support person throughout the hospitalization. Visitation may be further limited as indicated by staff to ensure the safety of patients, staff, physicians, and visitors.
• Neonatal Intensive Care Patients: May have up to two (2) visitors on a case-by-case basis; visitor must be limited to two designated parent/legal guardian or support person throughout the hospitalization. Visitation may be further limited as indicated by staff to ensure the 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 two support persons 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 (same person for the duration of the visit) if space permits or unless otherwise indicated by staff to ensure safety of patients, staff, physicians and visitors.
• Adult Inpatients: Adult inpatients may have one (1) visitor (switching out allowed if unit able to accommodate)who must remain in the room for the duration of each visit. Visitation may be further limited as indicated by staff to ensure the safety of patients, staff, physicians, and visitors and exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis.
• Surgical/Procedural Patients: Patients undergoing a surgery or procedure may have one (1) visitor (switching out allowed if unit able to accommodate) who must remain in the room for the duration of each visit 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 (switching out allowed if unit able to accommodate)who must remain in the room for the duration of each visit. Visitation may be further limited as indicated by staff to ensure the safety of patients, staff, physicians, and visitors and exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis.
• 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) 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.

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. 

If you are mildly 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 Orange County Health Referral Line at (800) 564-8448.

Yes, all Emergency Department patients are screened for symptoms of respiratory illness at the entrance to the Emergency Department. Depending on the symptoms and assessment, the next steps for each patient are provided by an emergency department clinician.

We are sorry for the need to modify our visitation policy temporarily and look forward to returning to our customary policy when the risk of spreading COVID-19 is no longer a serious concern.

Yes, all visitors will be masked. It is of the utmost importance to reduce the spread of the virus to our patients, your loved ones, that all visitors are masked for the entire visit.

Yes, regardless of the patient or visitor’s health status, visitors should wear a mask.

Replacing masks often is unnecessary. A visitor can use the same mask for the entire day.

Visitor trays are still available at this time. We offer meals between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Please ask your nurse for assistance with this.

No. For the health and safety of your loved one, it’s important that you stay in room for your entire visit. Upon exiting the patient room, then you will need to exit the facility.

If you need a prescription, please contact our outpatient pharmacy. If you are out of refills, your pharmacy will contact your doctor for you. Ask your doctor and/or pharmacy if delivery is an option for you. Our pharmacy is open Monday - Sunday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. for walk-in service.

Continue to take all current medications unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

We have canceled our in-person classes and events until further notice. To view a list of our virtual classes, please visit memorialcare.org/classes.

Yes, healthy individuals without signs of respiratory illness may donate blood. Please contact our Blood Donation Center at (949) 452-3158 for more information.