Carilion Clinic Limiting Hospital Visitation to Minimize Flu Virus Spread
New policies at Carilion Clinic Hospitals to protect patients, visitors and staff
Carilion Clinic hospitals are taking additional steps to lessen the spread of flu-like illness, including the H1N1 and seasonal flu virus.
“As the number of patients with flu-like illness continues to increase, we feel that additional precautions are necessary,” said Thomas Kerkering, M.D., medical director of Carilion Clinic’s Infectious Disease Department. “We are trying to protect our patients, their families and our hospital staff, while reducing opportunities for flu to spread in the community.”
New visitation policies that have been temporarily implemented at Carilion Clinic hospitals include:
- Visitors under the age of 18 will not be allowed to visit the hospital.
- Patients with flu-like illness are limited to one visitor.
- Visitors to any patients who are isolated with flu-like illness will be required to wear masks, gloves and gowns as requested by hospital staff.
- People with flu-like symptoms and colds should not visit the hospital.
- People with flu-like symptoms do not need to go to a hospital emergency department unless they are having difficulty breathing or are dehydrated
Visitors are discouraged from visiting patients with flu-like illnesses. If visitation is necessary, patients with flu-like symptoms may only have one visitor at a time. Other measures being taken include employee flu shot clinics for the seasonal flu beginning Monday, Oct. 12. The H1N1 vaccine should be available for employees within the next week.
Additionally, everyone should take the following steps to protect their health:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the tissue in the trash after each use.
- Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick when possible.
For more information and the latest developments on H1N1, please visit CarilionClinic.org/swineflu.
2 Responses to “Carilion Clinic Limiting Hospital Visitation to Minimize Flu Virus Spread”
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DDuck on October 8th, 2009
Couldn’t Carilion have implemented a less draconian policy?
How does keeping a healthy child from visiting her mother before spinal surgery help?
Maybe the child could be given a mask and hand cleaner upon entering the hospital?
Maybe this violates Virginia regulations?
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+reg+12VAC5-410-230
Just curious.
Carilion Clinic on October 9th, 2009
DDuck,
Thanks for your comment, and I understand your concern. The goal of the policy is, of course, to keep the healthy child healthy, and to protect our patients, especially those who may be about to undergo serious medical procedures. According to the CDC, people with H1N1 flu “may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after”. The fact that someone appears healthy is not a guarantee that they are not infected and contagious, and children are at increased risk for infection and complications. That said, we also want to be sensitive to the needs of individual patients. If a unique need exists, please mention it to the nurse who is caring for the patient. It may be possible to bring in a child visitor and take some extra steps to protect both the child and patient from infection. Thanks again for your comment, and for bringing up an important point of discussion!