To protect newborns, mothers and hospital staff from exposure to the H1N1 influenza, Griffin Hospital is implementing temporary visitor restrictions that will halt visiting to the hospital’s Childbirth Center by visitors age 18 or younger.
The new visitor age restrictions are effective November 2nd.
The Childbirth Center is the only hospital area affected by the temporary visitor restrictions at this time. In addition the hospital is asking people with any respiratory or influenza like symptoms to not visit any patient at the hospital.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children and youth up 18 years of age are at higher risk for contracting infection and complications due to the H1N1 virus.
Those who contract the flu may be contagious for 24 to 48 hours before symptoms appear.
The restrictions are for Childbirth Center visitors only and not for adults, youth or children seeking hospital care.
Those coming to the hospital for care, however, are asked to not to bring non-patient children or youth under the age of 18 with them to avoid the risk of exposure to the flu.
The hospital has posted signs noting the visitor age restrictions at entrances as well as respiratory etiquette signs.
“We are implementing limited visitor restrictions at this time, but will continue to monitor the spread of the H1N1 influenza in the community as well as the number of patients being seen in our Emergency Department and admitted to the hospital. We will take additional steps as the situation may warrant,” said Bill Powanda, Griffin Vice President. “We have a broad- based task force in place that is monitoring influenza activity and developing contingency plans if the outbreak escalates.”
Over 600 Griffin employees, about half of the regularly scheduled staff, have now received the H1N1 vaccine and the vaccination process is continuing.
The hospital is also making the vaccine available to expectant mothers whose obstetrician cannot provide the vaccine.
