​New patients and returning patients will have several forms to fill out upon arrival. Prior to your visit, you can go to our website's Forms and click on the forms that apply to you, fill them out and bring them to your visit. This will save time at check-in.

Information on COVID-19

Visalia Ob/Gyn Medical Associates want to express our ongoing commitment to your well being.   Our office will remain open with regular business hours to provide obstetric and gynecologic care. A few things you need to know,
 
 FOR OUR OFFICE
  1. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. If you are experiencing these symptoms, contact your primary care physician .  We cannot test for COVID-19 through our office.  If you do have flu or cold like symptoms, please do not come to our office or go to the Family Birth Center without calling first.  Appointments will need to be rescheduled by calling our receptionists (not our medical assistants) if you need to quarantine or isolate.
  2. To minimize the risk of exposure to both patients and staff, we ask that you not bring family or friends with you to appointments. We care for a spectrum of patients, many of whom are at higher risk for serious illness if infected by COVID-19. We have an obligation to do everything we can to protect patients and staff so that we can continue to safely provide care. We certainly understand that this may be a difficult and unwanted transition, particularly with school and daycare closures. Know that this is meant to minimize your risk of disease exposure.
    One adult visitor may accompany patients for the first new obstetrical visit and the anatomy ultrasound scan (between 19-22 weeks).  The visitor is asked to remain outside of our office in the first floor main lobby of the building or their vehicle until the patient is called back into the exam room.  No children allowed except newborns in carriers.
  3. Patients are required to wear facial coverings to enter our office.  
 
PREVENTION MEASURES
 
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these include
  • Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • If soap and water are not available, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol
  • Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
  • Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
  • Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash, and washing your hands
  • Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces
  • Staying home when you are sick
 
​Frequently Asked Questions
The following links provide more information regarding COVID-19
COVID-19, Pregnancy, Vaccines and Breastfeeding: ACOG's Message for Patients
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Women's Health Care: A Message for Patients
When to isolate or quarantine
Appointments will need to be rescheduled by calling our receptionists (not our medical assistants) if you need to quarantine or isolate.
​
Isolation and Quarantine Recommendations for the General Public

Persons Who Test Positive for COVID-19 (Isolation)
 Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection or lack of symptoms.
  • Stay home (PDF) for at least 5 days.
  • Isolation can end after day 5 if symptoms are not present or are resolving and a diagnostic specimen* collected on day 5 or later tests negative.
  • If unable to test or choosing not to test, and symptoms are not present or are resolving, isolation can end after day 10.
  • If fever is present, isolation should be continued until fever resolves.
  • If symptoms, other than fever, are not resolving continue to isolate until symptoms are resolving or until after day 10.
  • Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings (see Section below on masking for additional information)
 *Antigen test preferred.

 Persons Who are Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine)
 Unvaccinated; OR Vaccinated and booster-eligible but have not yet received their booster dose.   (Refer to CDC COVID-19 Booster Shots to determine who is booster eligible)
  •  Stay home (PDF) for at least 5 days, after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.
  • Test on day 5.
  • Quarantine can end after day 5 if symptoms are not present and a diagnostic specimen collected on day 5 or later tests negative.
  • If unable to test or choosing not to test, and symptoms are not present, quarantine can end after day 10.
  • Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings (see Section below on masking for additional information).
  • Strongly encouraged to get vaccinated or boosted.
  • If testing positive, follow isolation recommendations above.
  • If symptoms develop, test and stay home.

Persons Who are Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 (No Quarantine)
Boosted; OR Vaccinated, but not yet booster-eligible.  (Refer to CDC COVID-19 Booster Shots to determine who is booster-eligible)
  • Test on day 5.
  • Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days, especially in indoor settings 
  • If testing positive, follow isolation recommendations above.
  • If symptoms develop, test and stay home.

Isolation: separated those infected with a contagious disease from people who are not infected.
Quarantine: restricts the movement of persons who were exposed to a contagious disease in case they become infected.
Close Contact: A person has had a close contact if they were within six feet of a COVID-19 case for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or greater in any 24-hour period within or overlapping with the “high risk exposure period.”

Learn more about quarantine and isolation: