Arrowhead Regional Medical Center is a county-operated hospital at 400 N. Pepper Avenue in Colton, in San Bernardino County. According to its 2024 report to the state (HCAI), the hospital cared for 2,099 newborns in its newborn nursery that year, and it reports 30 licensed intensive-care newborn (NICU) beds and 230 NICU discharges. For many families in Colton, San Bernardino, Fontana, Rialto, Redlands and the surrounding Inland Empire, this is where a baby's life begins.
This page is for parents and caregivers who delivered at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and who have questions after a hard delivery: a baby who needed the NICU, a baby who is not meeting milestones, an arm that does not move, seizures, or a mother who was seriously hurt. Most births go well. When they do not, families deserve plain answers about what these injuries are, what the warning signs look like and what options exist.
Nothing here says that anyone did something wrong at this hospital. Many birth complications happen even with excellent care. The goal is to help you understand the medical terms, get the records, know that strict deadlines exist, and decide for yourself whether to ask an independent expert to review what happened. Beverly Law offers a free, confidential conversation in English or Spanish.
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At a glance: Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
| Address | 400 N. Pepper Avenue, Colton, CA 92324 |
| County | San Bernardino County |
| Health system / operator | County of San Bernardino |
| Type of hospital | Public hospital (county or public hospital authority) |
| Newborns in 2024 | 2,099 (report to the state, HCAI) |
| Licensed NICU beds | 30 |
| Main phone | (909) 658-6150 |
| Hospital website | arrowheadregional.org |
Sources: HCAI — 2024 Hospital Annual Utilization Report and the hospital’s own website.
Labor and delivery at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center lists Labor and Delivery as part of its Maternal-Child Health services. The hospital's own website says its team handles thousands of births each year, most of them uncomplicated, and that its maternal and child services provide a higher level of care when complications arise. The hospital also describes care for women during pregnancy, and it offers a Maternity Welcome Tour with breastfeeding information and Lamaze classes in English and Spanish.
For babies who are born early or who are very sick, the hospital's website describes a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with specialists who care for premature or critically ill infants around the clock. We have not found a NICU level of care stated on the hospital's own site or on a state page, so we do not give one here. In its 2024 report to the state (HCAI), the hospital listed 30 licensed intensive-care newborn beds, 230 NICU discharges and 2,099 newborns cared for in the newborn nursery.
Arrowhead Regional is a county hospital and a teaching hospital. It serves families across the Inland Empire, including many Spanish-speaking families and families covered by Medi-Cal. If your baby was born here, you are one of thousands of families who chose, or were sent to, this hospital in a given year. Wanting to understand what happened after a complication is a normal part of caring for your child.
Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is brain dysfunction caused by too little oxygen or blood flow to the brain. According to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, it can lead to effects ranging from none or mild to permanent disability such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy or learning problems, and severity usually depends on how long the brain went without enough oxygen. Causes can arise during pregnancy, during labor, or after birth, and include placental problems, umbilical cord problems, a uterine tear, very low maternal blood pressure and serious infection. Babies with HIE may be floppy, have seizures, feed poorly, or have a weak cry. Cooling therapy (therapeutic hypothermia) is the main treatment for qualifying babies and is started in the first hours of life.
Cerebral palsy is a group of movement and posture disorders. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) explains that it results from damage to, or abnormal development of, the parts of the brain that control movement, and that this can happen before, during or shortly after birth. In many children the exact cause is never found. Brain bleeds, infections and lack of oxygen are among the causes doctors discuss.
Erb's palsy and other brachial plexus birth injuries involve the network of nerves from the neck to the arm. Gillette Children's explains that these injuries most often happen when a baby's shoulder is caught in the birth canal and the nerves are stretched or torn, about 2 in 1,000 babies. Many babies recover with therapy, while some need nerve surgery. Other conditions families ask about include newborn brain bleeds, skull or collarbone fractures, infections such as group B strep (GBS), and maternal injuries such as heavy postpartum bleeding (hemorrhage). These conditions can happen for many reasons, and a diagnosis alone does not say why it happened.
Warning signs of a birth injury in the first days, weeks and months
In the first days, parents and nurses watch for trouble breathing, a baby who is very limp or very stiff, a weak or high-pitched cry, poor feeding or a weak suck, seizures (rhythmic jerking, staring, lip smacking or odd bicycling movements), a low temperature, or an arm that stays still at the baby's side. A baby who needed breathing help, cooling therapy or a NICU stay is monitored closely, and the NICU team usually explains what to expect.
In the first weeks and months, concerns often include trouble feeding or swallowing, not following faces or light, not startling at loud noises, one hand held in a fist long after the others open, favoring one side of the body, or an arm that cannot be lifted. Gillette Children's notes that by about 3 months a child with a brachial plexus injury may still be unable to raise the arm or bend the elbow, and that therapy tends to work best when started early.
Later signs often include delays in rolling, sitting, crawling or walking, stiff or floppy muscles, speech delays, and seizures. Not every delay means a birth injury, and many children catch up. Still, trust your instincts. Ask your pediatrician about a developmental screening, write down what you notice with dates, and keep every discharge paper from the hospital.
Free birth-injury case review
We review the delivery records with medical experts and tell you honestly whether there is a case. You pay no fees or costs unless we win.
Who may be responsible in a birth-injury claim
A birth involves many people, and who may be legally responsible depends on the facts. Depending on the case, that may include the hospital and its nurses and staff, the obstetrician, a midwife, an anesthesiologist, a neonatologist or pediatrician, and the medical group that employs a physician. Every case is different, and review does not assume that anyone is at fault.
One question comes up again and again: did the doctor work for the hospital? Some physicians are employees of the hospital or of a medical group, and others are independent and have privileges to treat patients there. This can change who a claim is brought against and which rules apply, so it is worth asking early rather than guessing from the badge a person wore.
Arrowhead Regional is operated by the County of San Bernardino, which makes it a public hospital. Claims involving public hospitals follow special rules, including a short written-claim requirement that comes before any lawsuit, much shorter than the usual deadlines. This is one of the main reasons families should not wait if they have questions. The verified legal details appear later on this page.
How an independent expert review of a delivery works
An independent review starts with the records. A reviewer, usually a physician with experience in obstetrics or neonatology, reads the prenatal chart, the labor notes and the fetal heart monitoring strips, which show the baby's heartbeat and the mother's contractions across the whole labor. The reviewer also looks at the Apgar scores recorded at 1 and 5 minutes, the medication and anesthesia records, and the timing of key decisions.
Next comes the baby's chart: umbilical cord blood gases, which measure how much oxygen and acid were in the baby's blood at birth; resuscitation notes; NICU nursing and physician notes; lab results; EEG findings; and brain MRI or ultrasound reports. These records help experts understand when an injury likely began and whether it could have been caused by something other than labor, such as an infection, a genetic condition or a problem that started before labor.
The expert then gives an honest opinion about whether the care met accepted medical standards and whether any departure caused the injury. Sometimes the answer is no, and that answer is also valuable because it gives a family peace of mind. A review is not a promise of a case, and a family decides at every step whether to go forward.
What to do now after a difficult birth at Arrowhead Regional
First, focus on your child's care. Keep every follow-up appointment, including NICU follow-up, neurology, therapy and pediatric visits. Write down dates, symptoms, names of services and anything a provider told you. Do not post details about the delivery on social media, and avoid signing papers you do not understand.
Second, request the records. A parent can request the mother's chart and the baby's chart, including the fetal monitoring strips, from the hospital's Health Information Management department. Ask for the complete record, not only the discharge summary. Records can take time to arrive, so start now.
Third, ask about deadlines and talk to a lawyer who handles birth injuries. Because Arrowhead Regional is a public hospital, a very short written claim period can apply, and parents' own claims can have shorter deadlines than the child's. Beverly Law can explain how the clock works in your situation, arrange an independent medical review, and answer questions in English or Spanish at no cost for the first conversation.
Support while the case is reviewed: therapies, Early Start and Medi-Cal
Your child's care should never wait for a legal review. Early therapy, such as physical, occupational and speech therapy, can make a real difference. Ask your pediatrician for referrals, and ask the NICU or hospital social worker which follow-up programs are available to your baby.
Children under 3 with a delay or a medical condition that may cause one can receive Early Start services through their regional center. For San Bernardino County, that is Inland Regional Center. Children with certain serious medical conditions may also qualify for California Children's Services (CCS), and many families have Medi-Cal that can cover therapy, equipment and specialist visits. A hospital social worker or your county office can explain what your child may qualify for.
We cannot promise any result from a legal review. We can promise to listen, explain your options clearly and respect your decisions.
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center is a public hospital: the six-month claim comes first
Because Arrowhead Regional Medical Center is a county / public hospital (operated by County of San Bernardino), a claim for an injury at birth usually has to start with a written government claim, not a lawsuit. This is the single most important deadline on this page.
Many California babies are born at county or University of California hospitals: LAC+USC, Harbor-UCLA, Olive View-UCLA, Riverside University Health System, Arrowhead Regional, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Davis and others. These are public entities, and the Government Claims Act applies. Under Government Code § 911.2, a written claim for injury or death must be presented to the public entity within six months of the injury, before any lawsuit. If the claim is rejected in writing, Government Code § 945.6 gives six months from that notice to file suit. The child’s longer deadline under Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5 does not replace this six-month claim, so families with a public-hospital birth should act right away.
California gives a child’s birth-injury case its own deadline. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5, a minor must sue within three years of the wrongful act, but a child who was under six when it happened has until his or her eighth birthday if that is longer. For a baby hurt during labor or delivery, that usually means the eighth birthday. The clock runs from the act itself, not from the day the family learned what went wrong, and it is paused only in narrow cases of fraud or collusion. Parents’ own claims, and claims against a public hospital, can have much shorter deadlines, so it is safer to get advice early.
What MICRA caps — and what it does not
California’s MICRA law limits one part of a medical malpractice recovery. Under Civil Code § 3333.2, as amended by AB 35, non-economic damages (pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life) are capped. In 2026 the cap is $470,000 for injury and $650,000 for wrongful death, and it rises every January 1 ($40,000 and $50,000 a year until 2033, then 2% a year). Separate caps can apply to doctors, hospitals and unaffiliated providers. Economic damages are not capped: lifetime medical care, therapy, equipment, home modifications and lost earning capacity can be recovered in full, and in a birth-injury case they are usually the largest part of the claim.
How to get the delivery records from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
California law gives families a right to these records. Under Health and Safety Code § 123110, a patient or the patient’s personal representative — for a baby, a parent or guardian (§ 123105) — may inspect the records within five working days of a written request and is entitled to a paper or electronic copy, which the provider must send within 15 days after receiving a request that says which records are wanted. For a birth-injury review, ask for both charts: the mother’s labor and delivery record, including the fetal heart rate monitoring strips, and the baby’s newborn and NICU record.
Records from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center are handled by its Health Information Management (Medical Records) department. According to the hospital's website, you complete the Authorization for Release of Records form (available in English and Spanish) and submit it by mail to 400 N. Pepper Ave., Colton, CA 92324, by fax to 909-658-3799 (Attn: Release of Information), or in person at the Medical Records public window on the Lower Level. The phone number is 909-580-0060, and the hours listed are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The hospital says unsigned requests are not processed and lists a per-page copy fee and a clerical fee. Ask for the mother's chart and the baby's chart, including the fetal monitoring strips, labor notes, cord blood gases and NICU records.
The hospital’s medical records page →
Where a case from Colton would be filed
A birth-injury case from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton would usually be filed in the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino. Civil cases for the San Bernardino District are handled by the Civil Division at the San Bernardino Justice Center, 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210, phone (909) 708-8678, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where a case is filed depends on the facts, and a lawyer can confirm it for you. In a claim against a public hospital, a written claim must come first.
Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino – Civil Division, San Bernardino Justice Center → — 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210
Help for your child now: Early Start in San Bernardino County
Early Start is California's program for babies and toddlers under 3 who have a developmental delay or a condition that may cause one. For San Bernardino County, including Colton, services are arranged through Inland Regional Center (www.inlandrc.org). According to the state Department of Developmental Services, the Early Start intake line for San Bernardino County is (909) 890-4711. Anyone can make a referral, including a parent, and you do not need a lawyer or a diagnosis. Call, say you would like an Early Start evaluation for your baby, and give the date of birth and your concerns. Evaluation and service coordination are provided through the program.
Key facts
- Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, at 400 N. Pepper Avenue in Colton, is operated by the County of San Bernardino, so it is a public hospital.
- According to its 2024 report to the state (HCAI), the hospital cared for 2,099 newborns in its nursery and reported 30 licensed NICU beds and 230 NICU discharges.
- A birth-injury diagnosis alone does not tell you why it happened, and an independent review of the records is how families find out.
- Because this is a public hospital, a very short written claim period can apply, so do not wait to ask questions.
- You have a legal right to your baby's records, and Early Start through Inland Regional Center is available for babies under 3 whether or not you file a claim.
Questions parents ask
Can I file a birth-injury claim against Arrowhead Regional Medical Center?
Families can ask whether a claim is possible after a delivery at any hospital, including Arrowhead Regional. Whether a claim exists depends on what the records and an independent medical expert show, not on the diagnosis alone. Because the hospital is run by the County of San Bernardino, a written claim to the public entity comes before any lawsuit. A free consultation is the fastest way to find out where you stand.
How long do I have to file a birth-injury claim?
California gives a child's birth-injury case its own deadline, which for a baby hurt during delivery is usually the eighth birthday. Parents' own claims can have much shorter deadlines. For a public hospital, a written claim must be presented within six months of the injury before any lawsuit. Because these deadlines differ, it is safest to get advice early.
Is Arrowhead Regional Medical Center a public hospital?
Yes. In its 2024 report to the state (HCAI), the hospital is listed as operated by the County of San Bernardino. That makes it a public entity, and the Government Claims Act applies to claims for injury, including the six-month written claim before a lawsuit.
What if my doctor did not work for the hospital?
Some doctors are hospital employees and others are independent physicians or work for a separate medical group. That does not end your options. A claim may involve the physician, the group, the hospital or more than one of them, and the records and an expert review help sort out who was responsible for what.
How do I get my fetal monitoring strips from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center?
Send the hospital's Authorization for Release of Records form to its Health Information Management (Medical Records) department by mail, fax or in person, as described above, and specifically ask for the fetal heart monitoring strips along with the labor and delivery chart and the baby's records. California law gives parents the right to a baby's records. The hospital lists a phone number of 909-580-0060 if you have questions.
Does it cost anything to talk to a lawyer?
No. The first conversation with Beverly Law is free and confidential, in English or Spanish. If a case is accepted, birth-injury cases are usually handled on a contingency basis, which means no attorney fee unless there is a recovery, and the terms are explained to you in writing.
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Other San Bernardino County hospitals we cover
Kaiser Permanente Fontana · Loma Linda Children’s Hospital · Kaiser Permanente Ontario Medical Center · San Bernardino birth injury lawyers →
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Birth Injury Lawyers — Beverly Law
Free case review for families in Colton. We obtain the delivery records, have them reviewed by medical experts and deal with the hospital and its insurer — you focus on your child. You pay no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
Cerebral Palsy · Erb’s Palsy / Brachial Plexus Injury · HIE / Oxygen Deprivation at Birth · Statute of Limitations · MICRA Damages Cap · All California hospitals · California birth injury lawyers · Birth injury guides
Sources
- HCAI — 2024 Hospital Annual Utilization Report (final, October 2025)
- Arrowhead Regional Medical Center – Maternal-Child Health — Labor and delivery, NICU description, Maternity Welcome Tour and Lamaze classes
- Arrowhead Regional Medical Center – Request Medical Records — How to request records: HIM department, address, fax, phone, hours, forms
- HCAI 2024 Hospital Annual Utilization Report — Newborn nursery count, licensed NICU beds, NICU discharges and the hospital's type of control
- Superior Court of California, San Bernardino County – Civil Division, San Bernardino District — Courthouse address, phone and hours for civil cases
- California Department of Developmental Services – Early Start intake by regional center — Inland Regional Center as the San Bernardino County Early Start contact and intake number
- NICHD – What causes cerebral palsy? — Causes of cerebral palsy before, during and after birth
- UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals – Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy — HIE causes, symptoms, diagnosis and cooling treatment
- Gillette Children's – Brachial plexus birth injury — Erb's palsy and brachial plexus birth injury causes, signs and outcomes
- Government Code § 911.2
- Government Code § 945.6
- Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5
- Civil Code § 3333.2 (as amended by AB 35, 2022)
- Health and Safety Code § 123110 (patient access to records)
Beverly Law is an independent law firm. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or speaking for Arrowhead Regional Medical Center or County of San Bernardino. Hospital facts on this page come from the public sources listed above.
Important: This page is general information about birth injuries and California law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Beverly Law. Every case is different — talk to a lawyer about your own situation. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. No fees or costs unless we win. Last reviewed: 2026-09-18.