Kaiser Permanente visitor policy

Few places have been impacted harder by COVID than hospitals, making visiting family and friends who may be hospitalized difficult and emotionally taxing. In order to protect patients and staff, Kaiser Permanente has implemented several guidelines as required by the California Department of Public Health. These measures include limiting visitors in medical facilities, requiring all visitors to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status, and asking anyone with symptoms of active illness, who are in isolation or in quarantine following exposure, to not to visit unless requested. Additionally, visitors may not drink or eat while visiting a patient’s room.

The State of California also requires proof of COVID-19 vaccinations or testing before accompanying or visiting a patient. Visitors will need to provide proof that they are vaccinated or have had a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours in order to enter the hospital or a skilled nursing facility. If you’re visiting a lab, pharmacy or radiology, you do not need to provide proof of vaccination or testing.

Kaiser has also recently updated their visitor policy in response to increasing COVID-19 transmission rates in counties and the state. Their restrictions correspond directly to rates in the county where hospitals are located, which are published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) [1]. Because visitor policies vary based on these rates, be sure to check your local facility [2] for current visitation guidelines before visiting.

If you have a loved one in the hospital, ensure you understand Kaiser’s visitor policies and Covid requirements prior to visiting. It’s important to be present for conversations with the doctor that may impact the care of your loved one.

Why you need to be there

When loved ones fall ill, it can be traumatic for both them and their families. You need to be there to support your loved ones and for your peace of mind. This also means having important conversations with the doctor on the floor regarding care and treatments. While there, it’s important to ask the right questions, take notes, and be prepared for any changes that may happen. Hospitals are doing all they can to protect patients, staff and visitors from COVID, but how they communicate with care providers may be different than with the general public. You can also inform staff that you would like consistent updates on your loved one’s care.

It’s also important to stay current on hospital visitor policy and information. Look for statements the hospital may release regarding changes on their website and in the press. Always ask for the most updated visitation policy as it might update continuously in response to the pandemic. Visitation requirements may even change from unit to unit – what is best for Labor and Delivery may not be the same for the Emergency room.

Most importantly, be mindful of your mental health and that of your loved ones who are hospitalized. Do everything you can to continue contact with them, whether that is regularly scheduled visits or video chats; but also be aware of the toll this may have on you.

Why they don’t want you to be there

Even though there have been changes to hospital visitation over time, there still are many reasons why hospitals may not want visitors to be present. Examples range from concern that too much activity might cause patients stress, that visitors might expose the patient to germs, or that visitation could interfere with patient care such as medication or other scheduled care.

But in other cases, doctors may have made mistakes that have devastating consequences. They may have failed to diagnose a condition correctly, provided improper treatment or failed to warn patients of known risks. If a doctor or hospital’s negligence has caused you or a loved one physical pain, mental anguish, unnecessary medical bills, or lost work, you may have a medical malpractice case. Medical malpractice occurs when patients are harmed by the actions (or inaction) of doctors and other healthcare professionals. To sue for malpractice, you must be able to show that the doctor caused you harm in a way that a competent doctor would have not.

If Kaiser Permanente is your healthcare provider and you have a potential medical malpractice case against a Kaiser Permanente doctor or hospital, call the Law Offices of Scott S. Harris. I am a San Diego medical malpractice attorney who will represent your best interests.

With more than 30 years of experience with medical malpractice cases, I understand the tactics used by insurance companies to try to shift blame onto the victim to avoid having to pay claims. I collaborate with experts in a variety of areas to address the many scientific and technical issues involved in these cases, and help clients secure the financial assistance they need to recover. If someone else’s negligence has left you or a family member injured, contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.

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