Central Valley

We have updated the visitation guidance for hospital and ambulatory settings based on the most recent public health order by the CDPH to include the key changes below:

Hospitals and clinics may now allow all patients to have visitors without restriction provided physical distancing can be accomplished and visitors comply with infection control guidelines, including masking.

Visitors are no longer required to show proof of vaccination or of negative COVID-19 test result to visit their family or friends in the hospital.

Anyone entering our facilities must continue to wear a well-fitted mask, that covers their nose, mouth, and chin, regardless of vaccination status. You may receive a recommendation to wear a KP supplied mask upon entry to facility to improve safety. Please adhere to all self-symptom screening required for entry to our facilities as posted at entry points.

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Most of the time, you can use an easy and reliable no-cost home antigen test for your COVID-19 testing needs. Not sure which COVID-19 test is right for you? See our guidelines on choosing the right COVID-19 test.

For those times that you need an in-person COVID-19 PCR test as directed by your doctor or if you are attending an event or activity that specifically requires a negative PCR test result, you can now get a rapid PCR test with results in approximately 2 hours at our convenient Northern California Kaiser Permanente testing locations. No appointment is needed and there is no cost.

Member flu shots are now available in the Central Valley. Help protect yourself, your family, and your community from the flu. Find convenient flu shot locations at Kaiser Permanente Northern California. You don’t need an appointment.

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Kaiser Permanente Modesto Medical Center is being recognized for excellence in maternity care by reducing the use of births via cesarean sections, which can lead to higher rates of complications for mothers and babies.

Kaiser Permanente Modesto Medical Center is among the 108 hospitals in California named to the 2022 Maternity Care Honor Roll.

This recognition is for hospitals that met or surpassed the statewide target aimed at reducing births via C-sections in first-time mothers with low-risk pregnancies. The 108 hospitals on the honor roll represent 51% of all 211 hospitals that offer maternity services and participate in the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative’s Maternal Data Center.

“We are proud to have the efforts of our maternity care teams recognized,” said Aphriekah Duhaney-West, senior vice president and area manager for Kaiser Permanente Central Valley. “Thanks to the efforts of our physicians and staff, families can be assured that their newborn will be welcomed to the world with the highest level of care, compassion and safety.”

Kaiser Permanente Northern California is a leader in providing innovative approaches to maternal care and is working to improve equity in maternal health. Our hospitals are among the best in the country for meeting rigorous standards for maternity care, including low C-section rates, elective early deliveries and for following important protocols to safely protect new moms and their babies. Last year, nearly 44,000 babies were delivered at Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals.

“Kaiser Permanente is committed to providing the best patient care, and our physicians and teams work tirelessly each day to fulfill that promise to our patients and their families,” says Sanjay Marwaha, MD, physician-in-chief for Kaiser Permanente Central Valley. “This recognition reflects our pride in service and our dedication to providing exceptional care for our new moms and babies.”

In 2015, the California Health and Human Services Agency began recognizing hospitals that meet the statewide target of C-sections for low-risk births through its Maternity Care Honor Roll. Starting this year, CHC changed the NTSV C-section rate threshold for honor roll hospitals from 23.9% to 23.6% to align with the Healthy People 2030 goals. This year’s award reflects calendar year 2021 hospital discharge and birth certificate data.

Overuse of C-sections can result in higher rates of complications for mothers including hemorrhage, transfusions, infection, and blood clots. The surgery also brings risks for babies, including higher rates of infection, respiratory complications, neonatal intensive care unit stays, and lower breastfeeding rates.

For more information on the California 2022 Maternity Care Honor Roll visit https://calhospitalcompare.org/programs/maternity-care-honor-roll/

April is National Healthcare Decisions Month, a national initiative that seeks to educate the public about the importance of advance care planning.

“When we complete our advance care planning, we bring peace of mind to our family so they avoid the burden of making difficult choices later,” said Paul Luong, MD, Palliative and Geriatric Medicine physician in the Central Valley.

At Kaiser Permanente, Life Care Planning (LCP) is an approach to advance care planning which enables family and physicians to know and honor patient wishes if they were unable to speak for themselves. It includes identification of a decision maker, understanding the values and goals of care, and documentation of treatment preferences using an Advance Health Care Directive. Life Care Planning seminars are regularly provided by trained nurse and social worker facilitators, as well as non-clinical staff.

“Life Care Planning helps to speak for a patient when they cannot – such as in the case of a bad accident or severe illness,” Dr. Luong said. “It also keeps the patient’s loved ones from having to make these types of decisions during emergency or high-stress circumstances.”

For more information, visit Kaiser Permanente’s Life Care Planning website, which contains tools and resources to help you get started.