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Visiting Guidelines

Sierra View Medical Center is working around the clock to stay on top of the evolving COVID-19 situation to ensure both excellent patient care as well as family and visitor safety.

SVMC continues adjusting in-person visitor guidelines in alignment with guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and recommendations from Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency (TCHHSA).

COVID-19 Safety Precautions

Personal Protective Equipment

Masking and social distancing requirements are still in place.

Mandatory Documentation

Mandatory Proof of Full Vaccination or Recent Laboratory Testing Required at Main Entrance of Hospital

SVMC continues to align with safety guidelines issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Visitors entering the hospital through the main entrance must verify that they are fully vaccinated (completed their full cycle of vaccination two weeks prior to the visit) or provide documentation of a negative COVID-19 laboratory test (PCR within 48 hours of the visit or antigen within 24 hours of the visit) in addition to answering screening questions. No at-home test results accepted.

Vaccination Proof: Visitors must be fully vaccinated two weeks before their visit.

  • Forms of Verification: These include an original CDC vaccine card or a digital scan or photo of it; or evidence of electronic immunization record form with the vaccination site; or California’s personal digital COVID-19 vaccine record QR code.
    • Fully vaccinated: Individuals whose second COVID-19 vaccine dose of Pfizer/Moderna (or single dose if Janssen vaccine) was given at least 2 weeks ago.
    • Incompletely Vaccinated: Individuals who have received one of two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
    • Unvaccinated: Individuals who have not received any doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 Testing Info: Visitors are eligible for indoor visits only if they can show documentation of a negative COVID-19 test. This requirement applies to unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated individuals.

  • Proof of COVID-19 Testing Proof of recent negative COVID-19 testing or vaccination is still required for visitors. Visitors must provide documentation of a negative COVID-19 laboratory test (PCR within 48 hours of the visit or antigen within 24 hours of the visit) in addition to answering screening questions. No at-home test results accepted.

Testing Exceptions & Considerations for Hospital Facility & Emergency Department Main Entry Points

Exception: Imminent death (within 72 hours) - no need to test or verify vaccination required. Hospital issued PPE per protocol will be provided.

Considerations: Care takers for dependent adults or minors; or labor partner (for L&D) – if unable to verify vaccine status, and there is no proof of a negative test within 72 hours of the visit, a rapid test can be authorized. Masks are still to be worn at all times.

Masking and Safety Requirements

All visitors, regardless of vaccination status or test result, must:

  • Wear a well-fitting face mask that is either a surgical mask or multiple layer mask upon entry and at all times within the facility.
  • Wear any other personal protective equipment (PPE) while in the patient's room that SVMC personnel deem appropriate to the situation.
  • Physically distance from health care personnel and others that are not part of the same group at all times while in the facility.
  • No visitors after 9 p.m.

Visitation Areas

Each area in the hospital and outpatient locations may have their own set of visitor guidelines and guidelines are subject to change in alignment with fast changing guidance from the state and in alignment with available space, We thank you for your patience as we work to safeguard the safety of our patients and visitors.

Areas Allowing Visitation

Visitors will be allowed in the following outpatient locations based on ability to maintain safe social distancing and the availability of waiting space.

Inpatient Locations

  • Emergency Department (ER):

*ONLY (1) Visitor will be allowed per patient

Known or Suspected COVID Positive Patients: NO visitors allowed. Exceptions: patients who meet ADA requirements and minors, for which (1) parent/guardian/caregiver may accompany the patient.

Download the latest COVID-19 visitation guidelines effective April 11, 2022

  • Intensive Care Unit (ICU):

*ONLY (2) Visitors will be allowed per Non-COVID positive patient between the hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (no visitors under the age of 13).

Known or suspected COVID Positive Patients: No more than two visitors at a time for a ten minute visitation facilitated by SVMC personnel.

* Exceptions made for comfort care or actively passing patients.

Outpatient Locations

As a visitor, you may be asked to wait in your vehicle or outside of the outpatient location until space is available in the waiting room and/or the patient you are accompanying is ready to be seen by their physician or advanced practice provider (such as a Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, etc.).

  • Ambulatory Surgery Center
  • Sierra View Medical Office Building
    • Academic Health Center
    • Imaging Services
    • Breastfeeding Resource Center
    • Outpatient Lab
  • Urology Clinic
  • Wound Healing Center
  • Physical Therapy
  • Roger S. Good Cancer Treatment Center

1, 2 or 3 Masked Visitors Allowed (Read On)

Current Visitor Guidelines allow 1, 2 or 3 Visitors, depending on where the patient is located in the hospital. Please review updates as follows, organized by number of visitors allowed and departments affected.

1 Masked Visitor Allowed as Follows:

One (1) unique in-person visitor (support person) per patient is allowed and applies to:

  • Surgery (Pre-Operative and Recovery):
    • Only one (1) masked visitor is allowed in the patient's pre-operative or recovery room. During surgery masked visitors will be asked to leave the facilities and one masked visitor will be allowed to return to the recovery area to receive discharge instructions.
    • Waiting area: Two (2) masked visitors will be allowed.
    • Visitor rotation allowed. (Visitors may switch out with others, or leave and return during the patient’s stay.)
  • Cath Lab and Interventional Radiology (IR) Patients (Pre-Operative and Recovery)
    • Only one (1) masked visitor is allowed at a time during the patient’s stay.
    • Visitor rotation allowed. (You can switch out with other visitors, or leave and return during the patient’s stay.

2 Masked Visitors Allowed as Follows:

Two (2) in-person visitors (support persons) per patient are allowed between the hours of 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in most areas of the SVMC campus.

Visitor rotation allowed. (Visitors may switch out with others, or leave and return during the patient’s stay.)

Visitors do NOT need to be designated by the patient. If there are more than two visitors, the most recent to arrive will be asked to leave the facility.

This applies to:

  • CDU and Pediatrics Area
  • Med/Surg, ICU and Telemetry Patients: (Patients must have no signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and must not be in the process of being tested (Suspect) for COVID-19.)
  • Maternal Child Health (Labor & Delivery): Up to two support persons (visitors) will be allowed to visit patients in the Maternal Child Health Department.
  • Surgery Patients *please refer to pre-op and recovery above
  • NICU: Parents are allowed in the NICU at all hours except during shift change between 6:30 AM and 8:00 AM and 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM.
  • Patients with Physical, Intellectual, and/or Developmental Disabilities and Patients Cognitive Impairments

3 Masked Visitors Allowed as Follows:

  • Maternal Child Health (Post-Partum): Father or support person of the newborn may visit at any time. Two (2) additional visitors are allowed between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM.

    • No more than three (3) visitors may visit at one time.
    • Visitors of Post-Partum patients must be 13 years of age or older.
    • Visitor rotation allowed for the two (2) additional visitors. These visitors may switch out with others, or leave and return during the patient’s stay.
    • The number of visitors may be adjusted at the bedside and will be determined at the discretion of the bedside nurse.
    • COVID-19 vaccination/testing requirements continue in place. Read more.

Questions? Please call 559-784-1110 or email marketing@sierra-view.com.

Visitation Age Restrictions

No children under the age of 13 are allowed in the following areas:

  • ER
  • ICU
  • Maternal Child Health (Labor & Delivery)

Departments that allow two or more visitors excluding Maternal Child Health (Labor & Delivery), children under the of age 13, are permitted as long as the child is able to observe hand hygiene, physical distancing and should be accompanied by an adult visitor over the age of 18 at ALL times

Masking Guidelines for Patients

According to recent CDC guidelines, universal source control methods should be deployed. This plan includes masking all visitors and patients, with the exception of those under 2 years of age, those with difficulty breathing, those who are unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

Behavior Guidelines

To ensure a safe and comfortable environment for Sierra View Medical Center patients and guests, please be courteous of others and adhere to the following Behavior Guidelines:

  • Allowed visitors will not interfere with the activities of any employee(s).
  • Allowed visitors must behave in a quiet and calm manner.
  • Allowed visitors will remain at the designated patient's bedside or in authorized waiting areas only.
  • Allowed visitors who do not comply with hospital policy will be asked to leave.

Smoke and Tobacco Free Campus

As a local hospital committed to the health and wellness of our community, Sierra View Medical Center is also committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for our patients, guests, volunteers and employees. We provide this for our community by ensuring our campus is tobacco and smoke-free.

As determined by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke and lung cancer among other health issues. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have determined cigarette smoking to be the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.

To help prevent the dangers of smoking and the risks that come with second-hand smoking, Sierra View Medical Center prohibits the act of smoking anywhere on hospital property. This also restricts patients, guests, volunteers and employees from leaving the hospital to smoke on Sierra View grounds. It is the hope of Sierra View Medical Staff that these efforts will help ensure the safety of patients, guests and employees by providing a smoke-free and tobacco-free environment.

Visiting Hours & Restrictions

Please Call Ahead

Please call ahead to inquire about possible visitation if you have been granted visiting privileges. The phone number to call 559-784-1110.

Food & Drinks

Please check with a patient's nurse before bringing in food or drinks. Patients often need special diets as part of their care. Once food is taken into a patient's room, it cannot be placed in a hospital refrigerator.

Eating is not allowed in the patient care areas. The only exception is with the support person in the Family Birthing Center.

The hospital's café serves meals daily and vending machines are also available. Eating is allowed only in the café or patio areas.