Jan. 20--BARTOW -- If you're sick with symptoms that could be flu, visiting someone in
the hospital is a bad idea.
Hospitals encourage potential visitors to stay home if they're sick. But,
recognizing that won't always happen, often the facilities post signs warning
people how to behave.
The warnings are particularly timely, with federal health officials
saying the flu is worse than usual and that older people are being
hospitalized more.
"We provide a self-service information station at our hospital entrances
for visitors," said Kathy Watson, a registered nurse who is Winter Haven
Hospital's manager of occupational health.
"That includes free hand sanitizer and masks, along with the
recommendation to please avoid visiting patients if they currently have a
fever, cough, or other flu-like symptoms."
In addition to telling people not to visit when they're ill, Bartow
Regional Medical Center posts signs reminding them to "cover your cough."
Staff and visitors should stay home if they are sneezing, coughing or
have a fever, said Marie Massaro, an infection preventionist at Bartow
Regional. She recommends drinking lots of fluid, getting extra rest and eating
nutritious food to help the body withstand the flu.
Lakeland Regional Medical Center wants staff and visitors to stay home if
they have a fever higher than 100 degrees, a sore throat, a runny nose and
body aches. Sick people should stay home until the fever has been gone 24
hours, Lakeland Regional said in a press release.
"Always wash your hands and try not to touch your face," Massaro said, to
reduce your own likelihood of getting the flu and of spreading it.
The three hospitals offer their employees free flu shots and urge them to
get the vaccine for their own good and that of patients.
Winter Haven has gone a step further with new employees. Starting in
September, it implemented a policy requiring all newly hired employees to get
a flu shot unless they have medical or religious exemptions, Watson said.
It sponsors Family Days Flu Clinics to give free flu shots to dependents
of employes who are in its group health plan. That includes children 2 years
old and older.
Winter Haven Hospital also provides free flu shots to volunteers,
licensed independent practitioners and students enrolled in medical fields
like nursing and radiology who are doing clinical rotations there, she said.
The three hospitals urge everyone to follow basic precautions, such as
covering their noses and mouths with a tissue when sneezing and then washing
their hands.
State and federal health officials endorse that recommendation. They
still recommend people get the flu shot, if they haven't had one this flu
season, and take flu antiviral drugs if their doctors prescribe them.
[ Robin Williams Adams can be reached at robin.adams@theledger.com or
863-802-7558. Read her blog at robinsrx.blogs.theledger.com. Follow on Twitter
at ledgerROBIN. ]
___
(c)2013 The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.)
Visit The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.) at www.theledger.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services