Hospitals limit visitations to reduce swine flu exposure

Children under 16-years-old are prohibited from visiting local hospitals during flu season this year as a precaution to slow the spread of the H1N1 virus.
Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz are each limiting visitations based on guidelines from the federal Center for Disease Control.
At Dominican, they are also limiting the number of visitors a patient can have to two at a time.
The restrictions take effect on Wednesday, Oct. 21 and will continue until further notice.
“We have a family-centered approach to care at Dominican Hospital and realize that this restriction will impact families already dealing with the stress of having a loved one in the hospital,” said hospital president Nanette Mickiewicz. “We also realize it will mean younger siblings will not be able to see the new baby immediately. However, our duty to the community mandates that we do what we believe is best for our patients and for the public’s health.”
Visiting restrictions are extended to all parts of the hospitals and exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis in extreme circumstances.
Dominican officials also urge that people with influenza-like illness to stay home and call or see their primary care physician.
Symptoms include fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, vomiting and diarrhea.
Hospitals are beginning to receive doses of the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine for patients. There is also a free clinic at the Santa Cruz County Health Center at 1080 Emeline Avenue in Santa Cruz. The center is open Monday through Friday, 8 -11:30 a.m. and 1 – 4:30 p.m. For information: 454-4000. It is closed for furlough on October 23.