This page is for families who welcomed a baby at Riverside University Health System – Medical Center, at 26520 Cactus Avenue in Moreno Valley, Riverside County, California, and who now have questions about a difficult delivery or about a child's health since birth. It explains, in plain words, what birth injuries are, which warning signs matter, how records are requested and how an independent review of a delivery works.
According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), the hospital cared for 1,745 newborns in its newborn nursery and has 32 licensed intensive-care newborn (NICU) beds, with 305 NICU discharges that year. Those numbers show how many Inland Empire families the hospital serves. They say nothing about any individual birth, and nothing here suggests that anyone at the hospital did anything wrong.
Many births that are hard at the time turn out well. But when a baby has seizures, trouble feeding, weak movement of an arm, or delays in development, parents often want to know why. Understanding your options early is a sensible step, and it does not commit you to anything. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice for your child.
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At a glance: Riverside University Health System – Medical Center
| Address | 26520 Cactus Avenue, Moreno Valley, CA 92555 |
| County | Riverside County |
| Health system / operator | Riverside University Health System (Riverside County) |
| Type of hospital | Public hospital (county or public hospital authority) |
| Newborns in 2024 | 1,745 (report to the state, HCAI) |
| Licensed NICU beds | 32 |
| NICU level | Level III |
| Main phone | 951-486-4000 |
| Hospital website | ruhealth.org |
Sources: HCAI — 2024 Hospital Annual Utilization Report and the hospital’s own website.
Labor and delivery at Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley
Riverside University Health System – Medical Center is the county's hospital in Moreno Valley. The hospital's own labor and delivery page describes a Labor & Delivery and Postpartum Unit that provides family-centered care for mothers and newborns around the clock. Services listed there include obstetric triage, labor and delivery care, monitoring for high-risk pregnancies, scheduled and emergency cesarean births, postpartum recovery, newborn assessment and lactation support, along with private delivery rooms where mother and baby can stay together.
The same page says Level III NICU staff are ready to care for babies who need extra support right after birth, with a neonatology team and dedicated specialists. According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), it has 32 licensed NICU beds and had 305 NICU discharges that year, and 1,745 newborns were cared for in its newborn nursery.
The hospital is operated by Riverside County as part of Riverside University Health System, so it is a public hospital. That matters later, because claims involving public hospitals follow special rules, which are explained in the verified legal section of this page. The hospital's main phone number is 951-486-4000.
Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is an umbrella term for brain injury around the time of birth when oxygen or blood flow to a baby's brain drops. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) explains that some children with HIE have no long-term problems, while others have mild to severe disabilities, including cerebral palsy, developmental delay, intellectual disability or epilepsy.
The CDC describes cerebral palsy as a group of disorders that affect movement, balance and posture, and as the most common motor disability in childhood. It can result from abnormal development or damage to the developing brain before birth, during birth or in early childhood. The CDC also notes that lack of oxygen at birth was once thought to be the main cause but is now believed to explain only a small number of cases, so a diagnosis alone does not tell a family what happened.
The Cleveland Clinic lists other birth injuries, including Erb's palsy (arm weakness from a brachial plexus nerve injury), a broken collarbone, skull fractures, bleeding inside the skull and scalp swelling. Many are minor and heal with time, therapy or monitoring, while some need specialist care. Infections in a newborn, such as group B strep, and complications for the mother, such as heavy bleeding after delivery, are also part of what families ask about. These are general medical facts and are not statements about this hospital.
Warning signs of a birth injury in the first days, weeks and months
In the first days, the Cleveland Clinic lists signs such as bruising or swelling, a baby who does not move an arm or leg, trouble feeding, unusual crying or fussiness, and hoarse or noisy breathing. Seek urgent care for shortness of breath, unusual sleepiness, cold or pale skin, fewer wet diapers over 12 hours, or refusing feeds. Seizures, very floppy or very stiff muscles, and a baby who needed help breathing or cooling treatment in the NICU are also reasons to ask questions.
In the first months, the CDC says the main sign of cerebral palsy is delayed motor milestones. Under six months, look for head lag when the baby is lifted, stiffness or floppiness, an arched back, or stiff legs that cross. After six months, a baby who does not roll over in either direction, struggles to bring hands together or to the mouth, or reaches with only one hand may need an evaluation. After ten months, crawling that is lopsided or scooting on the bottom is another sign. The CDC adds that some children without cerebral palsy show these signs too.
Do not wait to see if a child grows out of it. Tell your pediatrician what you see, ask for a developmental referral, and write down dates and observations. Early therapy helps children whatever the cause.
Parents know their child best. If something feels different from what you expected, or from how an older sibling developed, that instinct is worth raising at the next visit. Short videos of your baby's movements, feeding or any episodes that worry you can help a doctor understand what you are seeing, and they are also a useful record if questions about the delivery come up later.
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Who may be responsible in a birth injury claim
Many people take part in a delivery, and responsibility depends on the facts of each case. Those who may be involved include hospital nurses and labor and delivery staff, obstetricians, midwives, anesthesia providers, neonatal specialists, and the medical group that employs or contracts with them. Whether anyone was at fault is a medical question that only a review of the records can begin to answer.
An important detail is whether a doctor was an employee of the hospital or an independent physician. Some obstetricians and specialists work for a medical group or have their own practice and only use the hospital to deliver patients. Others are employed by the hospital system. Who employs whom can change which parties may be named in a claim and which procedures apply.
Because this is a county hospital, a claim against the hospital itself falls under special rules for public entities, including a short written claim step. We refer to it here only in general terms: strict deadlines apply, and the verified legal paragraphs below give the details. Families with a public-hospital birth are wise to ask for advice early.
How an independent expert review of a delivery works
An independent review starts with the records. Reviewers usually look at the prenatal chart, the labor notes and the fetal heart monitoring strips, which show the baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions over time. They check the baby's Apgar scores at one and five minutes, umbilical cord blood gas results that show how well the baby was getting oxygen, and the timeline of decisions during labor.
They also study the NICU notes, any cooling or breathing treatment, lab results, and imaging such as head ultrasound or MRI, which can help show the type and timing of a brain injury. Experts in obstetrics, neonatology, nursing and pediatric neurology may each read the same records from their own field.
The goal is to answer two questions honestly: did the care meet accepted standards, and if not, did that cause the child's condition? Sometimes the answer is that the injury could not have been prevented. A good review tells a family the truth either way, and it can bring real clarity.
A review takes time because the records are long and must be read in order, minute by minute. Families are usually asked to sign the records request, share the child's medical history and describe what they have noticed since birth. You can ask questions at any point, and you decide at each step whether to go further.
What to do now after a birth injury: step by step
First, take care of your child. Keep every medical appointment, follow the care plan and ask the doctors to explain the diagnosis in words you understand. Keep a notebook of dates, symptoms, names of departments and what you were told, but do not put names of people in public posts.
Second, request the records. Ask for the mother's labor and delivery chart, the baby's newborn and NICU chart, and the fetal monitoring strips. Third, speak with a birth-injury lawyer early. Deadlines for children and for parents are different, and claims involving public hospitals can be much shorter, so waiting can limit your choices. Talking does not mean you must file anything.
Fourth, avoid signing releases or settlement papers, and do not discuss the case on social media. Fifth, connect your child with early help, such as Early Start for children under three. Your child's care comes first and does not depend on a legal claim.
Support while a birth injury case is reviewed: therapy, Early Start and Medi-Cal
Children with birth injuries often benefit from physical, occupational and speech therapy, and from regular visits with specialists. Ask your pediatrician about referrals. The hospital's labor and delivery page says it offers Medi-Cal registration help for newborns, and families may also ask about California Children's Services (CCS) for eligible medical conditions.
For babies and toddlers under three, Early Start through your regional center offers evaluations and services for developmental delay. Support does not wait for a legal case to end. No outcome can be promised, but starting therapy early is one of the most useful things a family can do.
Riverside University Health System – Medical Center is a public hospital: the six-month claim comes first
Because Riverside University Health System – Medical Center is a county / public hospital (operated by Riverside University Health System (Riverside County)), 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 RUHS 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 your records from Riverside University Health System – Medical Center, contact the hospital's Health Information Management department at 951-486-5040. The hospital's records page asks you to complete its Authorization for Use and Disclosure of Health Information form, available in English and Spanish, and send it signed by mail to Health Information Management, 7898 Mission Grove Parkway South, Suite 200, Riverside, CA 92508, by fax to 951-486-5075 (Attn: Release of Information), or by email to RUHS-ROI@ruhealth.org. The page also lists an in-person location at the Nason Entrance, 1st Floor, D1003 of the Moreno Valley medical center, open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Ask specifically for the labor and delivery chart, the newborn and NICU chart and the fetal monitoring strips. Mothers can also view some records through the hospital's MyChart.
The hospital’s medical records page →
Where a case from Moreno Valley would be filed
A birth-injury case in Riverside County that seeks more than the limited-civil amount is an unlimited civil case in the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. The court's notice lists the Historic Courthouse, 4050 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501, as a location of its Civil Division. Because the court has changed civil filing locations recently, a lawyer will confirm the correct courthouse with the court's website, www.riverside.courts.ca.gov, before filing. Remember that a claim involving a public hospital may need to start with a written claim before any court filing.
Superior Court of California, County of Riverside – Historic Courthouse (Civil Division) → — 4050 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501
Help for your child now: Early Start in Riverside County
Early Start is California's program for babies and toddlers under three who have, or may be at risk for, a developmental delay or disability. Families in Riverside County, including Moreno Valley, are served by Inland Regional Center. A parent or guardian can ask for a free evaluation by filling out the online referral on inlandrc.org (it also has a Spanish version) or by calling Riverside County Early Start Intake at 909-890-4763, which also takes requests in Spanish. The center says someone should call about two weeks after the referral to schedule an assessment. You do not need a lawyer or a diagnosis to ask.
Key facts
- According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), Riverside University Health System Medical Center cared for 1,745 newborns and had 32 licensed NICU beds.
- The hospital is operated by Riverside County, so it is a public hospital and special claim rules apply.
- The hospital's own labor and delivery page describes Level III NICU staff and a neonatology team.
- Medical records can be requested from the hospital's Health Information Management department at 951-486-5040.
- Early Start evaluations for children under three are free through Inland Regional Center, with or without a legal case.
Questions parents ask
Can I file a birth-injury claim against Riverside University Health System Medical Center?
Any family can ask whether a birth injury was caused by care that fell below accepted standards. That depends on the records and an independent medical review, and many injuries turn out not to be preventable. Because this is a county hospital, the Government Claims Act applies and a written claim comes first, so it is wise to get advice early.
How long do I have to bring a birth-injury claim?
California gives a child's birth-injury case its own deadline, which for a baby hurt during delivery usually means the child's eighth birthday. But parents' own claims and claims against a public hospital can have much shorter deadlines, including a six-month written claim for public hospitals. Do not wait to find out which deadlines apply to you.
Is Riverside University Health System Medical Center a public hospital?
Yes. The state's report lists its licensee type of control as City or County, and it is operated by Riverside County. That means the Government Claims Act and its six-month written claim step apply to claims against the hospital.
What if my doctor did not work for the hospital?
Many obstetricians and specialists are independent or employed by a medical group rather than the hospital. That can change who may be named in a claim and which deadlines and procedures apply. A review of the records and the doctor's role can sort this out.
How do I get my fetal monitoring strips from Riverside University Health System Medical Center?
Send the hospital's signed Authorization for Use and Disclosure of Health Information form to its Health Information Management department by mail, fax (951-486-5075) or email (RUHS-ROI@ruhealth.org), and ask for the fetal monitoring strips along with the labor and delivery and newborn charts. California law gives parents a right to these records. Questions go to 951-486-5040.
Does it cost anything to talk to a lawyer about a birth injury?
Beverly Law offers a free case review, so talking to us about your questions costs nothing and does not commit you to filing a claim. We can explain your options, the deadlines and how the records are reviewed.
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Other Riverside County hospitals we cover
Rancho Springs Hospital, Murrieta · Riverside Community Hospital · Kaiser Permanente Riverside · Riverside birth injury lawyers →
Riverside University Health System – Medical Center Birth Injury Lawyers — Beverly Law
Free case review for families in Moreno Valley. 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)
- Riverside University Health System – Labor and Delivery — Labor and delivery services, Level III NICU staff, Medi-Cal newborn registration help
- Riverside University Health System – Medical Records — Records request process, addresses, phone, fax and email
- Superior Court of California, County of Riverside – Civil Division notice — Civil Division courthouse locations including the Historic Courthouse
- Inland Regional Center – Eligibility and Early Start — Early Start referral and Riverside County intake phone
- CDC – About Cerebral Palsy — Definition, causes and early signs of cerebral palsy
- Cleveland Clinic – Birth Injuries — Types and symptoms of common birth injuries
- NINDS – Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy — What HIE is and its possible 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 Riverside University Health System – Medical Center or Riverside University Health System (Riverside County). 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.