If your baby was born at John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus, at 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, and the delivery or the first days afterward did not go as you hoped, you may have many questions. Some families are told their child needs special care, therapy or a long hospital stay, and they are left wondering whether the injury could have been prevented. This page is written to help you understand the medical terms, the records and the steps that are available to you.
This page is for parents, grandparents and caregivers of children born at this hospital, and for mothers who were hurt during childbirth. It does not say that anyone at the hospital made a mistake. Most deliveries at any hospital go well, and many birth injuries happen even with excellent care. The goal here is simply to explain how families learn what happened and what their options may be.
The information below is general. It is not legal or medical advice for your child, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you have questions about your own situation, a free conversation with a birth-injury attorney can help you decide what to do next, and you can take your time.
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At a glance: John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus
| Address | 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 |
| County | Contra Costa County |
| Health system / operator | John Muir Health |
| Type of hospital | Private nonprofit hospital |
| Newborns in 2024 | 2,700 (report to the state, HCAI) |
| Licensed NICU beds | 60 |
| NICU level | Level III |
| Main phone | (925) 939-3000 |
| Hospital website | johnmuirhealth.com |
Sources: HCAI — 2024 Hospital Annual Utilization Report and the hospital’s own website.
Labor and delivery at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek
John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus is part of John Muir Health, a nonprofit health system, and the hospital offers labor and delivery through its Birth Center, according to the health system's own website. The hospital also offers online pre-registration for expectant parents, which the system suggests completing around 20 to 24 weeks of pregnancy, and a virtual tour of the Birth Center. The campus is a private nonprofit hospital in Contra Costa County.
According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), about 2,700 newborns were cared for in its newborn nursery that year. The same report lists 60 licensed intensive-care newborn beds and 534 NICU discharges in 2024. Those numbers show that the hospital serves many families from Walnut Creek and the surrounding communities, including babies who need extra support after birth.
John Muir Health's own materials describe the neonatal intensive care unit at this campus as a Level III NICU certified by California Children's Services (CCS). A Level III NICU is designed to care for newborns who are premature or seriously ill. Families whose baby spent time in the NICU often have the most records to review, because intensive-care notes can be long and technical.
Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery
Oxygen deprivation around the time of birth can lead to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, a type of newborn brain injury. The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that for babies with moderate to severe HIE, cooling treatment (therapeutic hypothermia) should begin within six hours of birth, when the benefit is greatest, and is continued for 72 hours. Babies who receive cooling need close monitoring in a specialized unit. Not every baby with a low-oxygen event develops HIE, and not every case of HIE is caused by something that happens during labor.
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect movement, balance and posture. The CDC reports that it is the most common motor disability in childhood and that most cases are congenital, meaning the brain was affected before or during birth, often without a known cause. The CDC also notes that oxygen deprivation during birth now appears to account for only a small number of cases. Because cerebral palsy is usually diagnosed over months or years, many families do not learn the diagnosis until well after they leave the hospital.
Other injuries families ask about include Erb's palsy and other brachial plexus injuries, in which the nerves that control the arm and hand are stretched during delivery; bleeding in the baby's brain; fractures of the collarbone or skull; and serious infections such as group B strep. Mothers can also be hurt, for example by severe hemorrhage, tears or surgical complications. Many of these conditions improve with treatment, and some do not. A doctor who treats your child is the best source for a diagnosis; the information here is only a starting point.
Warning signs in the first days, weeks and months
In the first days, parents and nurses watch for trouble feeding, unusual sleepiness or irritability, seizures or jerking movements, a weak cry, low muscle tone, trouble breathing, a low or high temperature, and a baby who does not move one arm or leg as much as the other. Any of these should be reported to the care team right away. A baby who needed breathing help, cooling treatment or a stay in the NICU deserves careful follow-up after discharge.
In the following weeks and months, the CDC describes signs that can point to cerebral palsy: in babies under six months, head lag when picked up, stiffness or floppiness, an arching back and legs that stiffen or cross; after six months, not rolling over, difficulty bringing hands together or to the mouth, or using one hand while keeping the other fisted. The CDC stresses that the main sign is a delay in motor milestones, and that some children with these signs do not have cerebral palsy, so any concern is worth an evaluation.
Trust your instincts. If your child is missing milestones, seems stiff or weak on one side, or has seizures, tell the pediatrician and ask for a referral to a specialist. You do not need a doctor's referral to ask the regional center for an early-intervention evaluation, and you do not need to decide anything about a legal claim to get your child help.
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Who may be responsible in a birth-injury claim
Many people take part in a delivery, so a review of a birth-injury case looks at who was involved and in what role. Depending on the facts, this may include the obstetrician or midwife, labor and delivery nurses, an anesthesiologist, a neonatologist or pediatrician, and the hospital that employed the staff. A claim may also involve a medical group that employed or contracted with some of the physicians.
Whether a physician is an employee of the hospital or an independent doctor with privileges matters, because it can affect who is legally responsible and which insurance applies. Many obstetricians are not hospital employees; they have their own practices or belong to a separate medical group. Finding out who employed whom is part of a careful review, and it is one reason why the full records matter.
Being named in a review does not mean someone did something wrong. A claim can only move forward when qualified experts conclude that the care fell below accepted standards and that this caused the injury. Many birth injuries are no one's fault, and an honest review will say so.
How an independent expert review of the delivery works
An independent review starts with the complete records: prenatal records, the labor and delivery chart, the baby's newborn and NICU notes, and the mother's own chart. Reviewers pay special attention to the electronic fetal heart monitoring strips, which show the baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions over time; Apgar scores at one and five minutes; umbilical cord blood gas results, which measure acidity and can suggest how much oxygen the baby received; the timing of key decisions, and any notes about when staff were told or called.
A physician with the right specialty then reads the chart, often an obstetrician, a neonatologist, a pediatric neurologist or a radiologist who studies the baby's brain MRI. Imaging done in the first days of life can help show when and how a brain injury happened. Experts look for what the records show, what a reasonably careful provider would have done, and whether any difference caused the harm.
An expert review can end in different ways. Sometimes it finds that care was appropriate and that the injury was not preventable, and the family gets answers. Sometimes it identifies concerns that justify moving forward. Either way, a review gives you information before you decide what to do, and a lawyer's initial consultation does not cost you anything.
What your family can do now, step by step
First, take care of your child and yourself. Keep every follow-up appointment, and write down diagnoses, medications and names of specialists. Keep a simple notebook of dates, symptoms and conversations, and save discharge papers, bills and insurance letters. Do not post details about your child's care or any dispute on social media.
Second, request the records. A parent or guardian can ask for the mother's labor and delivery chart and the baby's newborn and NICU records. Ask specifically for the fetal monitoring strips and the cord blood gas results, since they may not be included unless requested. See the records section below for how to contact this hospital.
Third, talk to an attorney early, even if you are not sure you want to file anything. Birth-injury cases have strict deadlines that differ by type of hospital and by who is making the claim, and a notice is required before certain claims can be filed. Getting advice early protects your choices without committing you to anything. If you delivered at a Kaiser hospital as a member, different rules about arbitration may apply, and this hospital is a private nonprofit hospital, not a public one.
Support while your case is reviewed: therapy, Early Start and coverage
Your child's care should not wait for any legal decision. Early intervention can make a real difference for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or conditions such as cerebral palsy. In California, children under 3 can be evaluated through the Early Start program, which is delivered by regional centers, and Contra Costa County families are served by the Regional Center of the East Bay.
Depending on your child's diagnosis and your family's income, other programs may help with costs, such as Medi-Cal and California Children's Services (CCS), which covers certain medical conditions for eligible children. Ask the hospital's social worker or your pediatrician what you may qualify for. Eligibility rules change, so confirm them directly with each program, and nothing here is a promise of coverage or of any outcome.
Deadlines for a birth-injury case in California
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.
Before a medical malpractice lawsuit can be filed in California, the doctor or hospital must get written warning. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 364, the health care provider must receive at least 90 days’ notice of the intention to sue. No special form is required, but the notice must state the legal basis of the claim, the type of loss and the specific injuries suffered. Under § 364(d), if the notice is served within the last 90 days of the filing deadline, the deadline is extended 90 days from the date of service. The notice is a required step, and it is often the moment a case moves from questions to formal action.
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 John Muir 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.
To get records from this hospital, contact John Muir Health's Health Information Management (Health Information Department). According to the health system's website, you send a signed Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Protected Health Information (available in English and Spanish) by email to HIM@johnmuirhealth.com, through MyChart, by mail to Health Information Department, 5003 Commercial Circle, Concord, CA 94520, or by calling (925) 947-5373 (Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM). The page says a fee may apply, requests can take up to 14 calendar days, and a photo ID is needed for pickup. Ask for the mother's labor and delivery chart and the baby's newborn and NICU records, and name the fetal monitoring strips and cord blood gas results specifically.
The hospital’s medical records page →
Where a case from Walnut Creek would be filed
A birth-injury case against a private hospital in Contra Costa County is usually filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa, as an unlimited civil case. The court's website lists general civil matters, including civil filings and trials, at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 725 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553. The court's main number is (925) 608-1000; confirm the right location with the court before filing, because assignments can change.
Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa – Wakefield Taylor Courthouse → — 725 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553
Help for your child now: Early Start in Contra Costa County
Early Start is California's early-intervention program for babies and toddlers under 3 with developmental delays or conditions that may cause them. The California Department of Developmental Services lists the Regional Center of the East Bay (rceb.org) as the regional center that serves Contra Costa County, including Walnut Creek, and lists its Early Start intake line as (510) 618-6195. You can call or write to ask for an evaluation; you do not need a doctor's referral, and the evaluation does not depend on any legal claim.
Regional Center of the East Bay →
Key facts
- John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus is a private nonprofit hospital at 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek, part of John Muir Health.
- According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), about 2,700 newborns were cared for in its nursery and 534 babies were discharged from its NICU that year.
- John Muir Health describes the NICU at this campus as a Level III NICU certified by California Children's Services.
- California gives a child's birth-injury case its own deadline, but parents' claims can be shorter, so asking early is safer.
- You have a legal right to request your records and your baby's records, including the fetal monitoring strips, from the hospital.
Questions parents ask
Can I file a birth-injury claim against John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek?
A family can ask whether a claim exists after a delivery at any hospital. Whether there is a valid claim depends on the medical records and on expert opinions about the care and the cause of the injury. A free consultation and a records review can help you find out, and nothing here suggests that anyone at the hospital did something wrong.
How long do I have to file a birth-injury claim?
California gives a child's birth-injury case its own deadline: generally three years from the wrongful act, but for a child under six at that time, until the eighth birthday if that is longer. Parents' own claims can have much shorter deadlines, and a written notice is required before many claims are filed. Because deadlines are strict, it is safer to get advice early.
Is John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek a public hospital?
No. In the state's data it is listed as a nonprofit corporation operated by John Muir Health, so we treat it as a private nonprofit hospital. Claims against county and University of California hospitals follow different, much shorter notice rules, and Kaiser members' claims may go to arbitration, so it matters which type of hospital you delivered at.
What if my doctor did not work for the hospital?
Many obstetricians and other physicians have their own practices or belong to a separate medical group and only have privileges at the hospital. A review looks at who employed or contracted with each person involved, because that can affect who may be responsible. The nurses and other staff may be hospital employees, which is part of what the records and an expert review help clarify.
How do I get my fetal monitoring strips from John Muir Medical Center?
Send a written request with a signed authorization to the hospital's Health Information Department, by email to HIM@johnmuirhealth.com, through MyChart, by mail to 5003 Commercial Circle, Concord, CA 94520, or call (925) 947-5373. Ask for the labor and delivery chart and name the fetal monitoring strips and cord blood gas results. California law gives parents and guardians a right to the records.
Does it cost anything to talk to a lawyer about a birth injury?
At Beverly Law, the first conversation about your child's case does not cost you anything. You can ask questions, share what happened and learn about your options without any commitment. A records review and an expert opinion are the next steps if you want to continue, and the attorney will explain how fees work before you decide.
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Other Contra Costa County hospitals we cover
John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus Birth Injury Lawyers — Beverly Law
Free case review for families in Walnut Creek. 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)
- John Muir Health – Walnut Creek Medical Center maternity announcement — Shows the hospital offers labor and delivery through its Birth Center.
- John Muir Health – Preparing for Labor & Delivery — Online pre-registration at 20-24 weeks and virtual Birth Center tour.
- John Muir Health – Neonatal Critical Care flyer — Level III NICU at Walnut Creek Medical Center, certified by California Children's Services.
- John Muir Health – Request a Health Record — How to request records from the Health Information Department.
- Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa – Wakefield Taylor Courthouse — Address and civil case services at the Martinez courthouse.
- California Department of Developmental Services – Early Start intake and family resource centers — Regional Center of the East Bay serves Contra Costa County; Early Start intake line.
- CDC – About Cerebral Palsy — What cerebral palsy is, causes, early signs and how it is diagnosed.
- HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics) – Therapeutic hypothermia for HIE — Cooling treatment for newborn HIE: timing within six hours and 72 hours of cooling.
- Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5
- Code of Civil Procedure § 364
- 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 John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus or John Muir Health. 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.