Elkins, WV – Davis Health System officials have implemented visitation restrictions at Davis Medical Center (DMC) and Broaddus Hospital due to the influenza activity in the region.
“Due to the risk to patients and staff, Davis Health System is implementing visitation restrictions for their acute care areas at DMC and Broaddus Hospital as well as Mansfield Place,” said Misti Shine, RN, Infection Preventionist for DMC.
The restriction asks that anyone under the age of 12 and anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms refrain from visiting patients.
Catherine Schola, RN, Quality Director at Broaddus Hospital said flu-like symptoms may include fever, chills, body aches, sore throat, chest congestion, extreme weakness, runny or stuffy nose and fatigue.
“As an added precaution our emergency departments, urgent care clinics, and physician offices are providing masks at entrances and registration areas,” Schola said. “This is for the protection of the patients as well as for our staff members.”
In 2014, Davis Medical Center instituted a facility-wide employee influenza vaccine policy to ensure a safer patient environment.
According to Shine the flu can be contagious 24 hours before the onset of symptoms, and can be spread for a full week after the onset of symptoms, sometimes even longer in children. “Visitors may be exposed to those seeking treatment for the flu. They could also be carriers and contagious without even knowing it. It’s critical at this time that we limit the risk of exposure for everyone but especially for those who are high-risk to complications from the flu,” said Shine.
High-risk patients may include pregnant women, those with weakened immune systems, small children and those with asthma, lung disorders, or diabetes for example.
“To protect our children in the community, parents should exercise caution if their child begins to display signs of illness,” said DMC pediatrician Amanda Pennington, MD. “Parents should keep sick children home from school.”
“If a child has a fever that lasts more than 72 hours, has difficulty breathing or if they look very ill they should see their doctor right away. Children who are younger than two or who have chronic medical conditions like asthma should see their physician at the first sign of flu-like symptoms.”
Pennington recommended children be fever-free for 24-hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication before returning to school.
There are precautions the public can take to protect themselves in fighting the flu. Some measures include:
•Get a flu shot.
•Hand hygiene – wash hands frequently.
•Cover coughs and sneezes.
•Keep surfaces clean and disinfect them often.
•Stay home when you are ill to avoid spreading the virus.
Emergency departments at both DMC and Broaddus are treating an increased number of patients who have the flu. The West Virginia Health & Human Resources Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology reports a significant increase of influenza activity in WV for the week ending Saturday, December 27, 2014 and has indicated the activity as “widespread” which means that the state has seen an increase in at least half of all regions with laboratory confirmation in affected areas. More information about flu activity in WV is available at the website http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/oeps/disease/flu/Pages/default.aspx.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website www.cdc.gov, offers valuable information about influenza.
If you have questions or would like more information about Davis Health System visitation restrictions or influenza, contact Misti Shine, RN, Infection Preventionist (637-3450) or Catherine Schola, RN, Quality Director at Broaddus Hospital (457-8153). The public may also visit the DHS website at www.davishealthsystem.org.