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H1N1 side effect: limits on visits
At Salem Community Hospital, these visitation rules are effective immediately to cut down on the possible spread of the H1N1 virus.
Children under 14 may not visit the maternity unit, but they may view their new siblings through the nursery window. In all other areas of the hospital, visitors must be at least 18.
Families are asked to limit the number of people accompanying patients to the emergency room or outpatient surgery.
Only two people at a time may visit a patient.
Anyone with flu symptoms coming to the hospital for testing will be asked to wear a mask upon entering the hospital.
Flu-prevention information, tissues and hand sanitizer will be provided.
Source: Salem Community Hospital
St. E’s, St. Joe’s join growing list of Valley hospitals restricting access
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN — Due to an increase in H1N1 influenza cases in the Mahoning Valley, Humility of Mary Health Partners has placed restrictions on visitors to all its facilities to protect patients, families and caregivers.
The rules, announced Thursday, take effect immediately and will remain until the H1N1 outbreak subsides, the health system said.
HMHP includes St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown and Boardman, St. Joseph Health Center in Warren, Assumption Village in North Lima and Humility House in Austintown. These restrictions apply at HMHP:
U Visitors must be older than 14, especially in the maternity and intensive-care units.
U All visitors must be free from flulike symptoms, such as high fever, cough, sore throat and generalized muscle aches.
U Potential visitors who’ve had flulike symptoms are being asked to stay away from HMHP facilities until at least 24 hours after all symptoms have disappeared.
U Only one adult should accompany patients to emergency rooms or inpatient or outpatient surgery waiting areas.
Salem Community Hospital has similar restrictions in place.
“At this time, the majority of influenza is due to H1N1. We are taking proactive steps to protect our patients,” said Dr. Nick Kreatsoulas, the health system’s chief medical officer.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified that persons under the age of 25 appear to be particularly susceptible to the H1N1 virus. We want to limit those at risk from being exposed and reduce exposure to the flu,” he added.
The health system also issued a reminder concerning flu prevention strategies, such as frequent hand-washing, using alcohol-based hand-sanitizers and coughing into one’s elbows, not one’s hands. Those whose physicians recommend they get the H1N1 vaccine should get it as soon as it becomes available, HMHP said.
At Forum Health, no specific visitor restrictions have been put into effect, but those who aren’t feeling well are urged not to visit patients, said Trish Hrina, public relations coordinator.
Since April, Forum has asked people not to visit if they have a cold, or a cough or fever, or any other flulike symptoms, she said.
Signs at the hospitals remind visitors how to cover their coughs, and there are antibacterial stations around the hospitals, she said.
Forum Health includes Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren, Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in Howland and Northside Medical Center in Youngstown.
“At this time, we are not restricting visitors, but we are taking precautions by offering masks to those with coughs or flu-like symptoms,” said Ed Newmeyer, marketing and communications director at Sharon Regional Health System.
Sharon Regional also is offering kits containing a mask, tissues, hand sanitizers and a paper bag for tissue disposal to people with coughs or flu-like symptoms, he added.
milliken@vindy.com