East Morgan County Hospital implements visitor guidelines for flu season
BRUSH, Colo. (Jan. 27, 2011) — East Morgan County Hospital has announced that it is implementing visitor guidelines as a precautionary measure to ensure a safe environment for patients and protect patients, visitors, and employees during the influenza season.
Children 12 years of age and younger will no longer be allowed to visit patient care areas such as patient rooms, surgery waiting rooms or cafeteria areas. Research indicates that young people in this age group are the more at-risk population as carriers and transmitters of the flu. Young people who do come to visit at the hospital will be asked to remain in waiting areas and must be supervised by an adult at all times.
“We realize this is a significant change in our visitation policy,” said Dawn Benham, Infection Control. “With the increasing number of confirmed influenza cases in our area, we feel implementing these restrictions at this time are in the best interests of our patients and the community.”
As additional safety measures, the staff at EMCH also requests that you:
- Restrict visits to the hospital if you are exhibiting signs of possible flu (fever, cough, sneezing, or runny nose). Ask friends and family members who may plan a visit to the hospital to do the same.
- Wash your hands often -- especially before entering a patient’s room and when leaving the room. Sinks, soap and hand sanitizers are available on all nursing units and throughout the hospital. Vigorously rub your hands together using soap and water for 15 seconds or as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
- Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue or cough into your elbow, and encourage others to do the same.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
“Our goal is to protect the health and safety of our patients, many of whom are already vulnerable and susceptible to more serious illness, as well as the health care team providing services to those patients and families,” said Benham. “We would appreciate the understanding and cooperation of visitors and guests to the hospital in assisting us in reaching our goal.”
About East Morgan County Hospital
East Morgan County Hospital in Brush, Colo. is licensed by the state of Colorado and certified by Medicare as a 25-bed critical-access hospital. Designated as a Level IV Trauma Center, East Morgan includes a 24-hour emergency department with three trauma bays, two surgery suites, two recovery rooms, six pre- and post-operative rooms, one endoscopy room, and one outpatient surgery suite. It is part of Banner Health, one of the country’s largest nonprofit hospital systems.
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