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Visitor Restrictions at Greater Cincinnati Hospitals to Continue Through March 15
February 8, 2010
While illness due to H1N1 has waned, seasonal flu-like respiratory illnesses that typically impact the Tristate during winter necessitate that area hospitals continue to enforce regional visitor restrictions through mid-March.
“Unless respiratory diseases are still highly prevalent in the Tristate, most hospitals will end visitor restrictions on or about March 15,” says Tonda Francis, vice president of the Greater Cincinnati Health Council. “By that date, the winter flu season is generally behind us.”
Throughout the region, Greater Cincinnati hospitals will continue to enforce the following restrictions:
The limited visitation policies aim to minimize the spread of respiratory illnesses to health care workers, and especially to hospital patients. “We know it’s hard for family members and friends to stay away when their loved ones are sick in the hospital,” says Francis. “But it’s important to remember that a visitor’s cough or sneeze could turn into much more than that if it is passed on to a sick person whose system is already compromised. We know visitors wouldn’t want to make their loved ones any sicker than they already are.”
In addition, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center continues to implement restrictions that further limit visitation to parents and guardians only.
“If you are sick, please use good common sense to prevent the spread of germs that may make others sick,” Francis says. “If you have a fever, cough or other respiratory illness, don’t visit patients in hospitals or nursing homes. The best precaution is to just stay home. If you must go out, remember to cover your cough and wash your hands frequently,” adds Francis. Vaccines are still readily available and effective in preventing the flu.
To prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends careful hand-washing, coughing and sneezing into a sleeve or a tissue, and staying home from work or school at least 24 hours after fever free.
For more information on flu prevention, visit www.flu.gov.35 percent
H1N1 Challenges Ahead
October 5, 2009
Trust for America's Health (TFAH) released a new report on October 1, H1N1 Challenges Ahead, which estimates the potential number of cases, hospitalizations, and hospital bed availability in each state if 35 percent of Americans were to get sick from H1N1 this fall and winter. The report estimates more than 4 million people in Ohio could get H1N1 and more than 56,000 may need to be hospitalized. The estimates for Kentucky are approximately 1.5 million sick people with more than 20,000 hospitalized. And for Indiana the report estimates approximately 2.2 million people could get H1N1 and more than 30,000 people may need to be hospitalized.
According to the report, none of the three states would come close to exceeding hospital bed capacity. Under the estimated circumstances, Ohio could reach up to a 70 percent bed capacity, while Kentucky and Indiana capacities would be significantly lower, with 52 percent and 57 percent, respectively. However, 15 states would be at or exceed hospital bed capacity, and 12 states would be at 75 to 99 percent.
The full report, including a chart with state-by-state information on illnesses, hospitalizations, and flu vaccination rates, is available on the TFAH website.
WCPO-TV Channel 9 October 1, 2009 Report: Hospitals Ready for Possible H1N1 Patient Influx
WKRC-TV Channel 12 Report: Hospital Workers to Get Mandatory Flu Shots
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U.S. Laboratory Confirmed Influenza-Associated
Hospitalizations & Deaths from August 30 to November 7, 2009
As of November 13, 2009
(Source: Centers for Disease Control)
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Reporting States & Territories
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Hospitalized
Cases
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Deaths
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53* |
22,364 |
877 |
| *Includes the District of Columbia, America Somoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. |
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Resources for Health Care Providers
CDC Guidance Documents
Links
Information for General Audiences
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