COVID-19 Patient and Visitor Information
Your Safety is Our Top Priority
Your safety and well-being are our top priority.
Thank you for trusting us to care for you and your family. We recommend that everyone who is eligible stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, and importantly, people with weakened immune systems.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency or difficulty breathing, go directly to the ER or dial 911.
As of June 2023, Prime Healthcare hospitals have tested and cared for more than 700,000 people. We are incredibly proud to play a part in the mission to end the COVID-19 pandemic and serve our communities.
To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines, please visit the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccination website.
To find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic near you, please visit vaccines.gov
COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19 testing is an important public health tool. If you think you may have COVID-19, please contact your primary care provider to get information on testing facilities.
If you are in need of urgent medical care, please do not be afraid to seek care at a hospital. Prime Healthcare hospitals, with the collaboration of state and county-level Departments of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have implemented enhanced safety measures including robust infection control policies and procedures in place to keep our employees, clinical staff, physicians, patients, and communities safe. If you have questions or concerns, call the facility before you arrive for an appointment. You can also talk with your doctor or find a doctor and discuss the best option for your care
Our nearly 50,000 employees and physicians across the country have all met the difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic with unparalleled courage, strength and empathy. We extend our deepest gratitude to all frontline workers who continue to give so much of their time and effort to keep us well and safe.
Screening and Visitor Policies
Prime Healthcare hospitals and clinics have implemented additional screening processes and have updated visitor policies throughout the pandemic. Entry points may be limited to the Emergency Department and main entrance and continue to adjust based on community spread of the virus.
Groups at Higher Risk for Severe Illness
Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions most often are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. For most people, COVID-19 symptoms are mild and go away on their own. But if you have a weakened immune system, or have an underlying health condition, you have a higher risk of developing serious symptoms. It’s important you take additional precautions such as practicing social distancing and masking.
View the CDC’s How to Protect Yourself and Others webpage for ways to protect yourself and your family.
About Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe respiratory illness. Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe illness with fever, cough, and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- New loss of taste or smell
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
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COVID-19 Self-check
Are you experiencing COVID-19 symptoms? At the start of the pandemic, Prime Healthcare launched an online self-check questionnaire named Robby. Robby walks users through symptoms and then gives recommendations if medical care is needed. Robby is not intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment purposes. Click the blue “Start Self-Check Assessment” button to get started:
What You Can Do to Stay Healthy
According to the CDC, the best way to prevent illness is to do the following:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Alcohol hand sanitizers are also effective.
- At home, avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Outside your home, put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick (except to get medical care). Keep sick children home from school.
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. If you use a tissue, wash your hands afterward.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- See additional guidance from the CDC or visit your local health department website.
Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19
What is our hospital doing to protect patients?
- We are screening patients with symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath and with a history of travel within the past 14 days to communities with widespread or sustained community transmission of the coronavirus.
- If we have a confirmed or potential patient with COVID-19, we will institute standard infectious disease protocols, as well as additional measures, to prevent the potential spread of the virus. All healthcare providers who have contact with the patient will use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
How can I protect myself?
- We have launched an online self-checker for the novel coronavirus in the form of a bot nicknamed Robby. Robby walks users through symptoms and then gives recommendations if medical care is needed. Robby is not intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment purposes. Click the blue “Start Self-Check Assessment” button to launch the self-checker:
Here are the current CDC recommendations to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:
- Take everyday preventive actions for respiratory infections, such as avoiding close contact with people who are sick, staying home when sick, and washing hands often.
- Avoid traveling to places with widespread or sustained community transmission of the coronavirus. A good place for reliable travel information can be found on the CDC’s travel advisory page
Where can I learn more?
Concerned patients and family members should talk with their healthcare provider. You can also find more information about the virus from these websites.
- CDC/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (updated daily with advice for public)
- Find the latest on the CDC website as well as the website of your state health department.
- World Health Organization.
- U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.