Visitation restricted at hospitals

Click Here to Recommend Story

Provider taking steps to prevent swine flu spread

By Alex Bridges -- abridges@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Valley Health plans to take steps to curb the spread of the H1N1 virus at its medical facilities.

Rules go into effect Tuesday at all Valley Health facilities, including Winchester Medical Center, aimed at regulating visitation. Officials announced the measures at a news conference Friday at the Winchester hospital.

"We've had months to prepare," Jack Potter, medical director for emergency services at WMC, said by phone Friday. "We've been kept well-informed as to the behavior of the H1N1 swine flu, so this is no great surprise now, and we've had a lot of time to think and a lot of good work has gone into deciding what are the steps we can take, as a medical center, to make sure that certainly the flu patients get taken care of but, just as importantly, all the other folks we see day to day are safe and that we limit the spread of this infection to other people while they're ill."

The new rules are:

* Visitors must be at least 18 years old and no more than two at a time per patient.

* WMC visiting hours reduced to four hours a day -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.

* Spouses, significant others, parents or children who provide direct care may be granted expanded visiting hours.

* Exceptions to the policy to be made by the physician or charge nurse for the specific unit.

* Visitors to WMC must use either the main hospital entrance or the outpatient entrance; other entrances to inpatient care areas closed to visitors.

* Visitors who use the north parking deck may take the shuttle to the main entrance.

* All community youth programs held at WMC are on hold or will be rescheduled.

The age restriction is prompted by the fact that children are more likely to get H1N1, can be infected longer and are at greater risk of carrying and spreading the virus, according to a Valley Health news release.

The hospital may set up a tent outside the main entrance to screen people who may suspect they have H1N1 before admitting them into the facility, Potter said.

Officials anticipated they would reach a threshold next week, Potter said. The hospital has seen patients with H1N1-like symptoms and had 10 people admitted with those symptoms, Potter added. As the disease becomes more prevalent, officials expect to see more people come to the emergency room, Potter added.

The hospital actually is behind the state in the number of people it has seen with these symptoms, according to Potter.

Valley Health is a nonprofit, regional health care system that includes Warren Memorial Hospital in Front Royal, Shenandoah Memorial Hospital in Woodstock, Page Memorial Hospital in Luray, and Hampshire Memorial Hospital in Romney, W.Va. Valley Health also manages War Memorial Hospital in Berkeley Springs, W.Va.

Other system hospitals may change visitation hours if conditions warrant.

Visit www.valleyhealthlink.com for more information.