Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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Richmond and Tri-Cities area hospitals announce plan to reduce spread of flu: Health systems collaborate on visitor restriction policy
Richmond and Tri-cities area hospitals, including the VCU Medical Center, have announced a
coordinated plan to reduce the spread of seasonal and H1N1 flu by limiting
visitors to healthy adults 18 years and older and no more than two adult
visitors at a time per patient.
Officials said that effective Monday, Oct. 26, they are
limiting visitations in patient care areas at their hospitals because the flu
is widespread in the Richmond area. Children, in particular, are more likely to
get H1N1 flu and they can be infectious for longer periods of time, putting
them at greater risk of carrying the virus into health care settings.
Limited exceptions for special circumstances will be made,
for example, involving patients at the end of life or expectant and new fathers
under the age of 18. Exceptions will be allowed at the discretion of the health
care provider.
The policy will remain in effect throughout the flu season, at
least through March 2010. Hospital systems working in conjunction with the
Virginia Department of Health will evaluate the policy based on the incidence
of flu in the community.
“I applaud this coordinated effort by Richmond area
hospitals to protect their patients, visitors and health care providers,” said
State Health Commissioner Karen Remley, M.D., MBA. “This approach to infection
prevention will help maximize safety for everyone.”
Hospital officials noted that the H1N1 flu, in many cases,
has been mild in the general population, and that persons with a usual case of
seasonal or H1N1 can treat flu symptoms at home with rest, acetaminophen or
ibuprofen to reduce fever and by drinking fluids.
Unnecessary trips to the hospital emergency room can spread
the flu to others in the waiting room. For those who don’t have the flu, it is
likely to expose them to someone who has it. Persons with flu symptoms are
encouraged to keep away from others as much as possible in order to avoid
making others sick.
Hospital officials also said that unnecessary trips to the
emergency room tax the ability of local emergency departments to handle heart
attacks, broken bones, head trauma and other true medical emergencies.
There
are circumstances in which a trip to the emergency room or doctor’s office is
necessary. Individuals should seek medical care right away if they experience
difficulty breathing, chest pain or an altered mental state, such as confusion.
When in doubt, they should call their health care providers for advice.
The
best way to prevent the seasonal or H1N1 flu is to cover coughs and sneezes and
to wash hands often, especially after coughing or sneezing into them. According
to the Virginia Health Department, H1N1 flu vaccine will be available for the
general public at pharmacies, health care provider offices and local health
departments in mid-November. Information is available at www.H1N1Get1.com and by calling 1.877.ASK.VDH3.
Participating
hospitals include:
Chippenham
Hospital
Henrico
Doctors’ Hospital
Johnston-Willis
Hospital
John
Randolph Medical Center
MCV
Hospitals
Parham
Doctor’s Hospital
Memorial
Regional Medical Center
Retreat
Doctor’s Hospital
Richmond
Community
Southside
Regional Medical Center
St.
Francis Medical Center
St.
Mary’s Hospital
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