Changes to Sierra View Visitor Policy Now in Place Bring Expanded Visiting Hours and Warm Meals to Visitors

Porterville, CA – July 1, 2021: Sierra View Medical Center (SVMC) has expanded visiting hours and updated its visitor policy to welcome two (2) visitors for patients in certain departments in alignment with new guidelines from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) as of Thursday, July 1, 2021. As part of the hospital’s effort to bring comfort and convenience to patients and visitors alike, the hospital’s café is now welcoming visitors to enter the café and access the beverage cart so long as they return to patient rooms or designated areas. Visitor guidelines will continue to be modified based on recommendation from the CDPH and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Community members visiting Sierra View Medical Center or any outpatient locations are asked to please observe the updated visitor policy and hospital leadership kindly reminds the public to please continue masking while visiting any Sierra View facility. The community may read the CDPH’s latest guidance by visiting https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHCQ/LCP/Pages/AFL-20-38.aspx.

Increased Visiting Hours and Overnight Visitors

• Visiting hours have expanded to 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. from the previous 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. visiting schedule. Patients and their families are welcome to discuss visitation outside of these hours, as needed. Hospital leadership will work with families to find the best way to welcome visitors.
• Overnight visiting authorization may be granted depending patient’s needs and conversations with hospital leadership.
• Pediatric patients may have both legal guardians stay upon request.

Visitor Policy (By Department)

• Two (2) masked visitors are allowed as follows for patients who are not COVID-positive or who are not experiencing COVID-like symptoms including hospitalized patients of the Telemetry, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Medical-Surgical (Med/Surg) and the Clinical Decision Unit departments. Masked visitors may rotate throughout the patient’s stay. Two (2) masked visitors are also allowed for surgery patients but only one (1) masked visitor will generally be allowed in the pre-operative room. During surgery, masked visitors will be asked to leave the facilities and one (1) masked visitor will be allowed to return to the recovery area to receive discharge instructions. For Emergency Department patients, only one (1) unique visitor may be approved to visit. For a full list of visiting guidelines by department, please visit www.sierra-view.com/visitors.

Visitors Rules & Mandatory Masking Guidelines

• Visitors must check in at the front desk of any location they are visiting and be screened. Visitors can expect to be asked screening questions and receive a temperature check.
• Visitors must stay in designated areas only and may not congregate in lobbies or waiting rooms while visiting patients or carrying out any approved business within facilities. There are no exceptions.
• Sierra View Medical Center urges the public to please continue wearing masks or face covering when entering Sierra View Medical Center or any facility in alignment with the CDPH and the CDC. Read the details of the guidance by visiting www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx.

The Café is Now Serving Hot Meals to Visitors

In what will likely be one of the most welcome changes for visitors, the café has made necessary accommodations in line with CDPH’s guidance to once again serve meals and snacks to hospital visitors.

“Food nourishes the soul as well as the body. Food brings people together. Food bonds families and promotes healing,” says Director of Food & Nutrition, Zaelin Stringham MS, RD. She and her team have set safe visiting guidelines to welcome visitors to the café and the hospitals beverage cart, Sierra Brew (Coffee Corner). Visitors can now once again enjoy hand-crafted lattes and other specialty drinks brewed by the hospitals own baristas.

Visitors are asked to please consume food and snacks in patient rooms when possible. If eating in patient rooms is not possible, Stringham and her team have set aside designated tables in the café and in the hospitals courtyard.

To read the updated visitor guidelines for the ED, please visit sierra-view.com/visitors.