Published: November 01, 2009 08:41 pm      

Hospitals limit visitors to control flu

Officials say policy aimed at preventing spread of viruses.

Local hospitals are trying to stop the spread of seasonal and H1N1 flu by restricting the number of people within their buildings.

Jeanette Huntoon, chief executive nurse at Logansport Memorial Hospital, said the local hospital had restricted visitation to two adults at a time. The hospital is also instructing those who are sick not to visit.

“We do have signage posted telling them to stay home if they have flu symptoms,” Huntoon said.

Pulaski Memorial Hospital is enacting similar restrictions.

“By temporarily restricting hospital visitation, it will help protect our patients, their families and the hospital staff,” said Pat Smith, director of media marketing.

Pulaski Memorial is prohibiting anyone under the age of 18 from visiting. The only exception would be for those who are younger than 18 years and are the parent of a child who is a patient. Only two visitors are allowed to see a patient at a time.

Huntoon said Logansport Memorial Hospital was also restricting children on a case-by-case basis. She said the hospital had implemented visitation limits in the past.

“Every year there has been a bad flu season, we have limited visitation,” Huntoon said. “This year the vast, vast majority, over 80 percent, of the flu has been verified as H1N1.”

Huntoon said the hospital had seen no severe cases of H1N1. Only a few children and adults have been admitted to the hospital because of the seasonal flu.

“They either had a fever issue or could not get enough fluids down,” Huntoon said. “Here, we have had no intensive care patients from H1N1 or patients requiring ventilators.

“Those are the worst case scenarios you hear about, and we have not had to do that here.”

Children have been hospitalized more often than adults because of H1N1, which is why the visitation limits are more stringent for children, she said.

“Children are very efficient germ passers,” Huntoon said. “They are very tactile. They will touch everything and then touch their faces and mouths.”

As far as when to make the trip to the hospital for medical attention, Huntoon said if people cannot keep down enough fluids, have a fever for three to five days or have shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, they should see a doctor.

“A big one is if you start to feel better and then the fever returns,” Huntoon said.

If symptoms are mild, Huntoon advised simply staying home.

“Go to bed and take Tylenol as your physician suggests,” she said. “The No. 1 thing is stay home from the workplace or school. You can return when you do not have a fever for two days without fever reduction aids.”

Jennifer Tangeman is a reporter for the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5148 of jennifer.tangeman@pharostribune.com.