Hospitals put visiting ban on preteens

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ROCKFORD — If you’re planning to visit a loved one at a Rockford hospital, you may want to make other arrangements for children 12 and younger.

All three Rockford hospitals, in cooperation with the Winnebago County Health Department, said Friday they are limiting visitors to people older than 12 until further notice because of the spread of the H1N1 flu virus in the area. The Health Department also recommended that anyone showing flulike symptoms should not visit hospital patients.

Other measures
In addition, the hospitals and the Health Department will have protective masks, hand sanitizer and tissues available for visitors at all entrances.

The decision to bar younger visitors was a choice for the hospitals between the positive effects of having loved ones visit and an increased chance that patients already weakened by some other condition could be exposed to the virus, which has appeared to hit youngsters particularly hard. The limit does not apply to children 12 and younger who are ill and need to be admitted to a hospital.

“This is a national trend. We’re not doing anything different here,” said SwedishAmerican Health System spokeswoman Jan Hagenlocher. “The safety of the patients is the No. 1 concern. It’s something that’s difficult, but it’s something that has to happen for now.”

Although all three hospitals will limit visitors to those older than 12, procedures will vary at each one.

Hagenlocher said SwedishAmerican will have its receptionists and valets observe people as they enter the hospital and ask questions of those who appear too young or ill.

“Each case is going to be different,” she said, “and, of course, there would be an exception if someone was coming to visit a dying relative or something like that. We are also explaining things to patients, and they seem to understand and be all right with it.”

At 2 other hospitals
Rockford Memorial Hospital spokesman Mike Wiltse said the hospital will observe people at its main entrance and will provide a separate waiting area for children 12 and younger who come into the emergency room. He said visitors to pediatric and pediatric intensive care patients will be limited to two at a time.

Matt Hopkins, emergency preparedness coordinator at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, said signs have been posted at entrances advising visitors of the age restrictions. “We’re hoping that people will self-report and use common sense,” he said.

If anyone visiting a patient appears to be ill, he said, “every staff member is empowered to ask if that person needs help.”

Sue Fuller, community relations and marketing manager for the Health Department, said the department also will have masks, hand sanitizer and tissues available in its lobby and is asking clients with flulike symptoms to reschedule appointments until they are well.
H1N1 symptoms

She said symptoms of H1N1 flu include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue and that some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting as well.

“Make decisions about when to seek medical care as you would under normal circumstances,” Fuller said. “It is not necessary to seek medical attention if you have mild symptoms for which you would not ordinarily seek medical care.”

Fuller also said the department continues to recommend frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or tissue, and helping to contain the spread of the virus by staying home if you are sick.

Vaccination status
All three hospitals also have taken steps to protect their employees from the flu.

Wiltse said Rockford Memorial has begun offering H1N1 vaccine to its employees, beginning with emergency workers. “The first priority was the Emergency Department because they are really on the front lines,” Wiltse said, “but we are prioritizing and, as more vaccine is available, the number of those being vaccinated will be widened.”

Hagenlocher said SwedishAmerican is still awaiting delivery of H1N1 vaccine, but has held several vaccination dates for seasonal flu for its employees. She said first priority for H1N1 vaccine will be emergency workers, followed by other direct patient-care workers.

Hopkins said OSF Saint Anthony also has begun vaccinations with its Emergency Department first “and we have a priority list in place. Our ultimate goal is to offer vaccination to every employee who wants it.”

Staff writer Mike DeDoncker can be reached at mdedoncker@rrstar.com or 815-987-1382.

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