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Hospital prohibiting visitors under 18
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REXBURG -- Madison Memorial Hospital has joined with several other regional hospitals and dozens of national hospitals in denying visitors under 18 years old access to hospital patients.
The policy change, according to hospital officials, is to prevent the spread of both seasonal and H1N1 (swine) flu.
"The H1N1 is not more serious (than seasonal flu), but it is more prevalent -- most people get it and recover," said Jennifer Steinmetz, a representative of Madison Memorial Hospital. "But we have more people getting the flu this year than in past years and so (statistically) there is more potential for serious cases."
Steinmetz said children who come to the hospital to visit patients will be asked to leave.
But Madison Memorial Hospital is still accepting individuals of all ages as patients.
"Children will be asked to leave if they are here as visitors -- but we are not turning down patients," said Steinmetz. "We understand this has the potential to create alarm, but this is for the overall health of our community."
Other regional hospitals, such as the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center and Portneuf Medical Center, have already initiated this policy.
The policy changes, which may come as a surprise to some, are backed by sobering statistics recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last week the CDC announced an additional 11 children had died due to complications from the H1N1 virus. This brings the number of total child deaths to 86 -- 43 of which have been reported since the beginning of September.
Overall for the country, the death from pneumonia and flu-like illnesses have passed what the CDC considers an epidemic level, according to The Associated Press.
During a normal flu season, only 40 to 50 child deaths occur during the entire season, and this flu season has just begun.
Others aspects of the new tightened Madison Memorial Hospital visitation policy include the following: only two visitors at a time for each patient will be allowed in patient areas, all visitors will be strongly encouraged to wear masks and wash hands frequently, and those with flu-like symptoms and pregnant women are being encouraged not to visit the hospital unless absolutely necessary.
"The flu, in and of itself, is nothing to be alarmed about, said MMH chief quality officer Terry Conrad, "But this year's flu season does appear to be more serious. We want to prevent the flu from spreading as much as possible and keep people safe and healthy."
Madison Memorial Hospital has also placed restrictions on its staff. For instance, only patient caregivers are allowed direct access to the patients, and nonmedical personnel cannot enter certain areas of the hospital.
Medical personnel have also been encouraged to get vaccinated for the H1N1. Those who are not vaccinated will be required to wear a mask.
The new policies, which went into effect Oct. 16, are expected to last until sometime this spring.
The Eastern Idaho Public Health District has confirmed the deaths of three Bonneville County residents from flu-like symptoms over the weekend.
The deaths included a 15-year old Hillcrest High School student from Ammon. The student died Sunday after being admitted to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in respiratory arrest. The H1N1 flu is suspected as the cause of the death although laboratory test results are still pending.
The other two people, a 43-year-old male and 61-year-old male, were confirmed to have died from complications due to the H1N1 virus.
"The death of these three Idaho Falls residents saddens us deeply and our sympathies go out to their families and loved ones," said Richard Horne, director of Eastern Idaho Public Health District. "Although most cases of H1N1 influenza recover without medical attention, this is an unfortunate reminder that all flu viruses can be deadly. We must continue to be vigilant in preventing the spread of the H1N1 influenza and seasonal influenza. We anticipate that we could see more illnesses and deaths from H1N1, which is now widespread in our communities."
NATE SUNDERLAND
nsunderland@uvsj.com
The policy change, according to hospital officials, is to prevent the spread of both seasonal and H1N1 (swine) flu.
"The H1N1 is not more serious (than seasonal flu), but it is more prevalent -- most people get it and recover," said Jennifer Steinmetz, a representative of Madison Memorial Hospital. "But we have more people getting the flu this year than in past years and so (statistically) there is more potential for serious cases."
Steinmetz said children who come to the hospital to visit patients will be asked to leave.
But Madison Memorial Hospital is still accepting individuals of all ages as patients.
"Children will be asked to leave if they are here as visitors -- but we are not turning down patients," said Steinmetz. "We understand this has the potential to create alarm, but this is for the overall health of our community."
Other regional hospitals, such as the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center and Portneuf Medical Center, have already initiated this policy.
The policy changes, which may come as a surprise to some, are backed by sobering statistics recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last week the CDC announced an additional 11 children had died due to complications from the H1N1 virus. This brings the number of total child deaths to 86 -- 43 of which have been reported since the beginning of September.
Overall for the country, the death from pneumonia and flu-like illnesses have passed what the CDC considers an epidemic level, according to The Associated Press.
During a normal flu season, only 40 to 50 child deaths occur during the entire season, and this flu season has just begun.
Others aspects of the new tightened Madison Memorial Hospital visitation policy include the following: only two visitors at a time for each patient will be allowed in patient areas, all visitors will be strongly encouraged to wear masks and wash hands frequently, and those with flu-like symptoms and pregnant women are being encouraged not to visit the hospital unless absolutely necessary.
"The flu, in and of itself, is nothing to be alarmed about, said MMH chief quality officer Terry Conrad, "But this year's flu season does appear to be more serious. We want to prevent the flu from spreading as much as possible and keep people safe and healthy."
Madison Memorial Hospital has also placed restrictions on its staff. For instance, only patient caregivers are allowed direct access to the patients, and nonmedical personnel cannot enter certain areas of the hospital.
Medical personnel have also been encouraged to get vaccinated for the H1N1. Those who are not vaccinated will be required to wear a mask.
The new policies, which went into effect Oct. 16, are expected to last until sometime this spring.
Health district: Hillcrest High School student's death possibly from swine flu
The Eastern Idaho Public Health District has confirmed the deaths of three Bonneville County residents from flu-like symptoms over the weekend.
The deaths included a 15-year old Hillcrest High School student from Ammon. The student died Sunday after being admitted to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in respiratory arrest. The H1N1 flu is suspected as the cause of the death although laboratory test results are still pending.
The other two people, a 43-year-old male and 61-year-old male, were confirmed to have died from complications due to the H1N1 virus.
"The death of these three Idaho Falls residents saddens us deeply and our sympathies go out to their families and loved ones," said Richard Horne, director of Eastern Idaho Public Health District. "Although most cases of H1N1 influenza recover without medical attention, this is an unfortunate reminder that all flu viruses can be deadly. We must continue to be vigilant in preventing the spread of the H1N1 influenza and seasonal influenza. We anticipate that we could see more illnesses and deaths from H1N1, which is now widespread in our communities."
NATE SUNDERLAND
nsunderland@uvsj.com
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| St. Anthony teen dies in rollover | Hillcrest student's death possibly from swine flu |
Will Rhea wrote on Oct 20, 2009 1:31 PM:
Yeah, lets go back to when hospitals were not only spartan environments but were cold and callous as well! "