Departments

December 13, 2007

CONTACT:
Nancy Strassel, Senior Vice President
Greater Cincinnati Health Council
(513) 531-0200

or

Mary Sacco
Flu Collaborative
(513) 946-7808

Hospitals to Begin Restricting Visitation to Limit Spread of Respiratory Illnesses

As winter respiratory illnesses begin to arrive in the Tristate and a small number of flu cases is confirmed, many hospitals in southwest Ohio, northern Kentucky, and southeast Indiana will limit visitation as of Saturday, December 15. The goal of limited visitation is to minimize the spread of respiratory diseases to hospital patients.

“Winter brings an increase in a number of respiratory illnesses, not just flu,” says Colleen O’Toole, president of the Greater Cincinnati Health Council, “And although we know it’s difficult to ask family members and friends to stay away from their loved ones in the hospital, we also know visitors wouldn’t want to make their loved ones even sicker than they already are.”

For the hospitals that are limiting visitation, most are initiating the following restrictions:

  • No visitation by anyone who is ill with any respiratory symptoms including coughing, sneezing, runny nose, fever, etc.
  • No visitation by anyone under age 14

Hospitals’ decisions about visiting restrictions vary with the types of patients they serve and the specific services provided. For example, those hospitals serving special patient populations such as burn, transplant or ICU patients may institute even more restrictive visitation policies.

Also, hospitals with obstetrical services may make exceptions to the restrictions for a newborn’s siblings if they have received their flu vaccination at least seven to 14 days prior to visiting. Hospitals may consider other exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

Area hospitals have been working to protect their patients as much as possible from being exposed to respiratory illnesses, including flu. The hospitals have also worked internally and with the Greater Cincinnati Flu Collaborative to ensure that nurses and others who care for the most susceptible patients have received the flu vaccine and won’t inadvertently bring flu to their patients.

In addition, hospitals have put “respiratory etiquette” practices in place including making alcohol hand gel, tissues and face-masks available to patients and visitors in the emergency department and waiting rooms, and in some cases, separating an area in the waiting room for those with respiratory symptoms.

“If you are sick, please use good common sense to prevent the spread of germs that may make others sick” said Mary Sacco, director of nursing for the Hamilton County General Health District and coordinator for the Greater Cincinnati Flu Collaborative. “If you have a cold, the flu or other respiratory illness, don’t visit patients in hospitals or nursing homes. In fact, the best precaution is to just stay home. If you must go out, remember to cover your cough and wash your hands frequently,” Sacco added.

To prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses that include the flu, 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 when you are sick. The single most effective way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot each year.

“If you haven’t already, it’s not too late to get a flu shot in December or January,” said Sacco. “In fact, peak flu season will not begin for a couple of months, so there’s still plenty of time to be protected before flu season kicks into high gear.”

For more information on flu prevention, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm. For the most up-to-date information on flu shot availability locally, contact your physician, or call 513-931-SHOT, or go to: http://www.931SHOT.org.

Unless respiratory diseases are still highly prevalent in the Tristate, most area hospitals plan to discontinue visiting restrictions on or about March 15, 2008.

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