During this time of heightened alert, Desert West obstetric patients should know that Banner Health is working hard to ensure a safe experience for your delivery.

Banner Health hospitals are following the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for controlling COVID-19 in inpatient obstetric healthcare settings – triage, labor and delivery, recovery and postpartum.

Mothers with Suspected/Confirmed COVID-19

To reduce the risk of transmission to the newborn after birth, pregnant patients with confirmed coronavirus disease or those with symptoms who haven’t yet received a diagnosis, are strongly encouraged to stay in separate rooms until the mother who has confirmed/suspected COVID-19 from her baby until the mother’s transmission-based precautions are discontinued.

Risks will be fully explained to mothers who may choose (at this time) to keep their babies with them despite the risks.

Learn more at CDC

Hospital Visitor Limitations

Effective March 17, 2020, all Banner hospitals will allow only one visitor per patient. This means one visitor per patient in the building at any given time – there should be no congregating in waiting rooms.

This policy applies to all patients, including suspected/confirmed COVID-19 patients (i.e., these patients are permitted to have one visitor, and all visitors should follow appropriate precautions when visiting).