Brand Messaging for Children's of Alabama

For AL.com

The world is changing as a result of COVID-19, but life goes on—especially for the children who may need healthcare and their families. We as a society are all adapting to meet the needs that arise from the current pandemic, changing the way we live in fundamental ways. Together as a community, we are working to stop the spread of the virus and keep ourselves and our families safe.

Many in our community are asking about our response to the pandemic at Children’s of Alabama. For over a century, Children’s of Alabama has been dedicated to serving Alabama residents and the wider region by providing care for its most vulnerable children. We care deeply about our community and we have continued to provide care for patients during this pandemic while taking the precautions necessary so that patients and their families feel safe and comfortable. The way we operate has changed, but our hospital’s longstanding commitment to our patients and their families has remained the same.

We understand the complexities of operating a hospital during this unprecedented time. In the past few months, we have had to quickly adapt to the situation by implementing new safety protocols in all departments of the hospital, expanding our telemedicine offerings so that patients can see their primary care physicians in the comfort of their own homes, and postponing thousands of surgeries – most of which were not elective. We have invested heavily in keeping our workforce intact – some of the world’s most skilled and experienced doctors, nurses, and healthcare staff in pediatrics – in order to meet the resurgence in demand we expect to see as the country continues to reopen.

Amidst concerns about the pandemic and the implementation of social distancing guidelines, there is uncertainty in the community about carrying on normal activities, including seeking medical care at hospitals and clinics. At the same time, continuity of care is important to patients who may have chronic conditions, surgeries that have been delayed cannot be put off indefinitely, and regular appointments with doctors remain critical to identifying potential medical issues before they become more serious.

Children’s of Alabama is here for you during this challenging time. If your child needs to seek medical help from Children’s of Alabama, rest assured that you will be in good hands. It has always been our priority to ensure the safety and well-being of each child. We have not stopped providing care during the pandemic, but we have moved quickly to redesign our operations to keep our patients and their families as safe as possible when they visit our hospital. The following protocols make this possible:

All visitors are screened immediately for signs of illness and fever.

We follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting our facilities.

Our staff practices safe hand hygiene.

We are wearing masks for your safety. Thank you for wearing your face covering.

All visitors to campus are required to wear masks.

Waiting rooms have been reconfigured to accommodate social distancing guidelines.

We have implemented a staff density reduction plan to limit the number of employees on campus and to keep them safe as they shelter at home.

Please do not visit if you have flu-like symptoms and/or cough, fever and/or shortness of breath, runny nose/nasal congestion, or sore throat.

Visitors are limited to two parents/caregivers for inpatient visits. No other visitors, including siblings, will be allowed.

Visitors are limited to one parent/caregiver for other visits, though exceptions may be made in some cases.

We are scheduling telemedicine appointments whenever possible.

Our Pediatric Practice Solutions (primary care) offices are operating on altered schedules and triaging in the parking lot when possible. For the most up-to-date hours of operation, please visit www.childrensal.org/practices or call the office of your child’s pediatrician.

COVID-19 tests are being ordered for all inpatient admissions.

In our emergency department, you will see these safety protocols in action. From the moment a patient and their caregiver enter from our valet entrance, they’ll first go through a screening station to check for signs of respiratory illness. Only one parent or caregiver can attend to their child, though we will work to accommodate other family members outside the organization. The patient and caregiver will then go through a metal detector screening and meet with a triage nurse, who will evaluate what level of care they need. Throughout the process, hospital staff members will always be wearing masks and practicing hand hygiene.

For clinic visits, our staff is speaking to families beforehand in order to prepare for their visit and to ensure that they understand the safety protocols in place. Visitors to the clinic follow the same screening process as in our emergency department and staff and visitors are required to wear masks and practice hand hygiene. In waiting areas, we are also giving families their own space six feet away from other families and minimizing the amount of time spent waiting by bringing in patients as soon as rooms are ready.  

Whether it is a visit to the emergency department or the clinic, our staff will be doing everything possible to make your child feel safe and comfortable. They are trained to do this for every visit, but it is especially important during times of heightened uncertainty.  The hospital’s new protocols are designed to keep patients safe, to provide a positive experience even under the current constraints, and to keep our operations flowing smoothly so that patients can be directed effectively to the appropriate care.

Children's of Alabama stresses the importance of continuing immunizations for children, especially during this time of COVID-19. Keeping young children current with their immunization schedule is vitally important in the defense against other common childhood illnesses. For more information about Children’s of Alabama’s immunization schedule, please click here.

For further details of Children’s of Alabama’s COVID-19 safety precautions and updated protocol, please visit childrensal.org/coronavirus