Last update: 2021-07-29

Read our frequently asked questions below to learn more about patient and employee safety at Sharp HealthCare.

• How is Sharp keeping patients and employees safe?
• How is Sharp keeping areas clean and preventing the spread of infection?
• Do I have to wear a mask at Sharp facilities?
• Will a mask be provided if I come to a Sharp facility or do I need to bring my own face covering?
• I'm due to give birth at a Sharp hospital and think I might have COVID-19. What should I do?

We're ready to care for you.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, seek care right away. At Sharp hospitals and clinics, patients with COVID-19 symptoms are treated separately from patients with other medical concerns. Your health is important to us, and we will safely get you the care you need.

How is Sharp keeping patients and employees safe?

We have extra precautions in place to keep you and our care team safe, including:

• Patients with fever and respiratory symptoms, or other potential signs of COVID-19, are treated separately from other patients.
• Special check-in procedures at our clinics to reduce face-to-face interactions.
• Health screenings for all patients, doctors and staff prior to entering our facilities.
• Free delivery and curbside pickup of medications and other medically necessary items at Sharp Rees-Stealy pharmacies.
• Regular cleaning of our facilities and equipment. Sharp even has high-tech disinfecting robots to help ensure patient rooms are thoroughly clean at our hospitals.

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How is Sharp keeping areas clean and preventing the spread of infection?

All patients and visitors are encouraged to wear their own face coverings upon arrival to a Sharp facility. Patients with influenza-like illness or those wearing gaiters, bandanas, single-layer cloth masks or masks with exhalation valves will be given a standard mask. If visitors wish to wear their own cloth face covering, they may wear a Sharp-issued mask under their cloth face covering.

Signs are placed outside the entryway of each facility asking patients to wear a mask.

Sharp Rees-Stealy patients: At Sharp Rees-Stealy clinics and urgent care centers, patients must complete a self-screening questionnaire before arriving for their appointments or entering the clinics for any reason.

SharpCare and Sharp Community medical group patients: At SharpCare and Sharp Community offices, signs alert patients to call the office before entering if they have certain symptoms.

Waiting areas and lobbies are frequently disinfected to minimize exposure of germs to patients and visitors. This includes disinfectant wipes on high-touch surface areas, such as furniture, seating areas, counters, and other areas patients and staff may touch.

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Do I have to wear a mask at Sharp facilities?

Face masks are still required at all Sharp facilities, by order of the California Department of Public Health.

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Will a mask be provided if I come to a Sharp facility or do I need to bring my own face covering?

All patients and visitors are encouraged to wear their own face covering upon arrival to a Sharp facility. Patients with influenza-like illness or those wearing gaiters, bandanas, single-layer cloth masks or masks with exhalation valves will be given a standard mask. If visitors wish to wear their own cloth face covering, they may wear a Sharp-issued mask under their cloth face covering.

Signs are placed outside the entryway of each facility asking patients to wear a mask.

Sharp Rees-Stealy patients: You must complete a self-screening questionnaire before coming to a clinic and you should wear a personal face covering at all times you are at a clinic.

SharpCare and Sharp Community medical group patients: You should wear a personal face covering when coming to in-person appointments.

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I'm due to give birth at a Sharp hospital and think I might have COVID-19. What should I do?

Pregnant women should contact their doctor immediately if they believe they have symptoms of COVID-19. Additionally, all patients and their support person are screened for symptoms upon arrival to a Sharp hospital.

If a patient has COVID-19, or is suspected of having the disease, our Labor and Delivery team will work closely with the patient's doctor on a care plan for both mother and baby during and following delivery. The patient's support person may remain in the patient's room but should wear a mask at all times. No in and out privileges will be allowed.

All patients and visitors are encouraged to wear their own face covering upon arrival to a Sharp facility. Patients with influenza-like illness or those wearing gaiters, bandanas, single-layer cloth masks or masks with exhalation valves will be given a standard mask.

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We're here to help.

Sharp is ready to answer your questions about COVID-19. Call us at 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm.