October 26, 2009

Visitation Policy Changes Coverage

By Kelley Luckstein

Hospitals Limit Visitors

Come Monday, only parents and primary caregivers will be able to visit their child in the pediatrics wing at Mayo Clinic hospitals.

 

It’s a temporary change in an effort to curb the spread of the H1N1 virus.

 

"All of us at Mayo are very concerned about this, but not overly concerned," says Dr. Randall Flick, Medical Director of Mayo’s Eugenio Litta Children’s Hospital.

 

Mayo Clinic hospitals aren't the only facilities in our region changing policy.
 
Austin Medical Center just announced some new rules as well.
 
As of Friday, only immediate family members over the age of 16 are allowed to visit patients…

 

"We recognize this is a hardship for families but we also know that families want the best for their children," Dr. Flick responds.

 

KAAL by Mary Taing, 10/23/09

 

Children's hospital limits visitors

Mayo Clinic has treated hundreds of patients for flu-like illness.

Beginning Monday, only parents or primary caregivers may visit pediatric patients at Mayo Eugenio Litta Children's Hospital. The goal: Protect children with complex medical conditions from pandemic influenza.

H1N1 is risky for healthy young children, but more so for those with chronic underlying conditions, said Dr. Randall Flick, Eugenio Litta medical director. Both adults and children have been treated at Mayo.

"We have had deaths here associated with the flu, as have hospitals around the state and across the country," Flick said, rough for both families and health providers.

Post-Bulletin by Jeff Hansel, 10/23/09

Tags: flu, H1N1 virus, Infectious Diseases, vaccine, visitation

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