Greater Lynn hospitals adjusting for H1N1

Area hospitals have made adjustments to their visitor policies due to the increased number of cases of the H1N1 flu.North Shore Medical Center, which includes Union Hospital in Lynn and Salem Hospital, has implemented new visitor guidelines because of concerns surrounding the H1N1 virus. These changes, recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Public Health, are being put in place to protect both patients and staff during flu season.The new guidelines require all visitors to the emergency department, the pediatric inpatient unit, the Special Care Nursery and the Birthplace to complete a health screen questionnaire. Anyone who appears to have symptoms of seasonal illness will be asked not to visit patients.Under this temporary visitor policy, those under the age of 18 will not be permitted in pediatric areas or the Special Care Nursery, healthy siblings may visit in the Birthplace only when supervised by a parent and only two visitors will be allowed at the bedside in the Special Care Nursery; no more than four will be allowed beside in pediatric areas or the Birthplace.Beverly, Addison Gilbert and BayRidge hospitals have also modified their visitor policy.Anyone with fever and runny nose or cough, or other flu like symptoms or illness, should refrain from visiting patients in the hospital to avoid spreading the H1N1 virus.Anyone under 18 years of age is prohibited from visiting patients in Beverly Hospital’s North Shore Birth Center, Labor and Delivery, Maternity and Newborn Nursery, Hospital Special Care Nursery, and Beverly Hospital Inpatient Pediatric Beds on Johnson Floor 5.It is requested that visitors wash their hands or use sanitizers when entering or exiting a patient’s room and to cough or sneeze into the inner elbow. If hands are used to block a cough or sneeze, they should be washed immediately.”We appreciate the importance of families and visitors to our patients along with their important role in the healing process and understand the hardship that this restriction poses,” said Theresa D. Sievers, associate vice president for performance improvement for Beverly, Addison Gilbert and BayRidge hospitals. “However, patient safety is a high priority and these precautions are being put in place with the best interest of our patients in mind as we face this unusual flu season.”The H1N1 virus, or swine flu, is a respiratory infection that is spread quickly from one person to the next, most likely in the same way the seasonal flu is spread, through coughing, sneezing or touching surfaces that have been contaminated.Symptoms commonly associated with the swine flu include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and diarrhea. These symptoms generally appear three to five days after contraction and can last for a week or more.One of the most important steps to take in avoiding the flu is to get vaccinated. Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing to avoid spreading germs, wash your hands frequently with soap and water and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If possible, avoid contact with those experiencing flu symptoms, and stay home from work or school if you feel ill. Stay out of school or work until you have been without a fever for 24 hours.