Caregivers at Stanford Children’s Health
The health and safety of caregivers, patients, and staff are important to us. We continue to make changes to help prevent the spread of infection. This handout will tell you more about the rules for caregivers at Stanford Children’s Health.
Who can come to clinic appointments?
For visits to the maternity clinic, perinatal diagnostic center, or fertility and reproductive health clinic, one support person is allowed to be at the appointment with the patient.
For pediatric clinic visits, two caregivers are allowed to be at the appointment.
Caregivers must:
- Be 16 years or older
- Wear the mask given to them by the clinic at all times
Who can be at the hospital bedside?
For obstetric patients in the hospital, one support person can be at the bedside. If the support person is not fully vaccinated, a COVID-19 test will be required before moving from Labor & Delivery to the Maternity Unit.
If the test is positive or the support person refuses to test, the support person will not be allowed to go with the patient to the Maternity Unit.
For patients who are positive for COVID-19 or being tested due to COVID symptoms, one caregiver is allowed to be at the bedside.
Caregivers of COVID-positive patients must stay in their child’s room while in the hospital. This helps prevent the spread of infection.
For pediatric patients who have tested negative for COVID-19, two caregivers can be at the bedside.
Caregivers/Support Person must:
- Be 16 years or older
- Show vaccine card or negative Covid test within the last 72 hours
- Wear the mask given to them by the hospital at all times
Does this mean different caregivers can come to the hospital each day?
No, only two selected caregivers can be at the hospital if the patient is COVID-19 negative. For the health and safety of everyone, we are asking that you limit switching out caregivers in the hospital.
Can siblings or friends visit the hospital?
No, siblings or friends cannot visit at this time. If the caregiver is breastfeeding a baby 1 year or younger, the baby may stay with their breastfeeding parent.
When should caregivers stay home?
Caregivers who do not feel well should stay home. Caregivers with a cough, runny nose, sneezes, fever, sore throat or other symptoms should stay home.
What if a caregiver has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is waiting for COVID-19 test results?
To keep everyone safe, caregivers diagnosed with COVID-19 or who are waiting for their COVID-19 test results and have COVID-19 symptoms cannot be at the bedside. These caregivers need to stay home until they feel better and cannot give COVID-19 to anyone else.
When is it safe for caregivers to come to the hospital or clinic?
When you can come to the hospital or clinic depends on your symptoms and whether or not you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Not sure if you’re fully vaccinated? You are fully vaccinated if it has been at least 14 days since:
-
You received your second dose in a 2-dose series, such as Pfizer or Moderna
OR - You received a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson and Johnson or Janssen
| If you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, get tested right away. |
If a caregiver tested positive for COVID-19
A caregiver who tested positive for COVID-19 can visit the hospital only after:
-
5 days after positive test
AND - 24 hours with no fever or COVID-19 symptoms without using fever-reducing medication like Tylenol or Advil
Fully vaccinated caregivers who tested negative
If you are fully vaccinated and tested negative for COVID-19, use the table below to figure out when you can safely come to the hospital.
| COVID-19 symptoms | Close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 | When can you come to the hospital? |
| Yes | Yes | After 24 hours with no fever or COVID-19 symptoms without using fever-reducing medication like Tylenol or Advil. |
| Yes | No | After 24 hours with no fever or COVID-19 symptoms without using fever-reducing medication like Tylenol or Advil. |
| No | Yes | Get tested again at least 5 days after you were in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. If that test is also negative, you can safely visit the hospital. |
| No | No | You can safely visit the hospital. |
Caregivers who are not fully vaccinated who tested negative
If you are not fully vaccinated and you tested negative for COVID-19, use the table below to determine when you can safely come to the hospital.
| COVID-19 symptoms | Close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 | When can you come to the hospital? |
| Yes | Yes |
You can safely visit the hospital only after:
|
| Yes | No | After 24 hours with no fever or COVID-19 symptoms without using fever-reducing medication like Tylenol or Advil. |
| No | Yes |
If you had COVID-19 in the last 90 days, you can safely visit the hospital. Get tested again at least 5 days after you were in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID. If that test is also negative, you can safely visit the hospital 7 days after being exposed. |
| No | No | You can safely visit the hospital. |
Who can stay overnight at the hospital?
For patients who have tested negative for COVID-19:
- Two caregivers may stay at the bedside overnight with patients in inpatient units.
For patients who have tested positive for COVID-19:
- One caregiver may stay overnight.
How is Stanford Children’s Health keeping families safe?
The health and safety of all our patients/families, and staff are important to us. Everyone coming to the hospital and clinics will be checked at the front desk for symptoms of COVID-19. We are asking everyone to:
- Wash their hands often
- Wear masks
- Keep 6 feet away from others when possible
- Show vaccine card or negative Covid test with in the last 72 hours
