Identification bands

Your child is required to wear an ID band at all times to help staff properly identify him or her and ensure his or her safety. If your child has any allergies, he or she will also need to wear a red band to alert staff of these allergies.

Pediatric unit security

All visitors must be registered to enter or exit our pediatric inpatient units. To enter the unit, please ring the bell next to the door and the receptionist will buzz you in. Please note: Doors on the third- and fifth-floor pediatric acute-care units are alarmed. To exit these units, please ask the front desk or another staff member to open the door to avoid setting off the alarm.

Do not hesitate to ask anyone, “Who are you?” or “How are you involved in my child’s care?” For your child’s safety, all UCLA Health staff are required to wear picture ID badges. Please do not allow your child to leave the unit with anyone who is not wearing an ID badge.

Pediatric Rapid Response Team

The Pediatric Rapid Response Team is a group of medical professionals who offer critical-care expertise when there is a sudden change in a patient’s medical condition. This team provides service to the third- and fifth-floor pediatric acute-care units and the PICU/PCTICU. Parents, caregivers, hospital staff or the medical team on these units may activate the Pediatric Rapid Response Team for help. The Pediatric Rapid Response Team is activated through any hospital phone by dialing #36. You may also ask your nurse or any hospital employee to activate the system for you.

Warning signs to look for in your child include:

  • Sudden changes in breathing and/or heart rate
  • Sudden onset of confusion
  • Difficulty responding
  • You feel like something is wrong regarding your child’s acute condition

Preventing the spread of germs

To protect our pediatric inpatients and health care providers, we must be extra cautious to prevent the spread of infection in the hospital. The best way to prevent infection is to frequently wash your hands with soap and warm water or use the alcohol-based hand sanitizer in your child’s room.

Anyone who enters your child’s room, including visitors, must wash their hands for at least 15 seconds or use the provided hand cleanser upon entering and leaving the room.

In the NICU, visitors must remove all jewelry below the elbow. Upon first entry to the NICU each day, please wash up to your elbows for 2 minutes with antimicrobial gel. Upon re-entry to the NICU, you may wash your hands with either soap and water or foam hand sanitizer.

If your child is on isolation, as indicated by the colored sign on the door, you must follow the specified isolation precautions. These precautions are in place to prevent the spread of infection to you, your family members, the staff and other patients.

To protect against infection, infestation and possible damage to sensitive equipment, we must keep our environment clean. Patient rooms are cleaned daily; however, you may also request your child’s room be cleaned at any time by approaching any of our staff members.