Swine flu prompts change in hospital visitation policy

LEOMINSTER -- HealthAlliance Hospital/Leominster has changed its visitor policy in response to the H1N1 or swine flu outbreak across the nation, hospital officials announced during a press conference Thursday.

The policy states that only immediate family will be allowed to visit patients. Immediate family is defined as spouses, parents, grandparents or children age 14 and older.

Children under age 14 are asked not to come to the hospital unless they are patients, according to the new policy, and only two visitors at a time should visit patients.

Individuals with fever, cough or respiratory symptoms should not visit patients.

"We take seriously our role in helping the community with our emphasis on changing our patient/visitor policy. It is important to know that while H1N1 is highly contagious, when compared to other flu strains it doesn't appear to lead to a significant problem for the vast majority of the population, especially when proper preventative measures are put into place," said David Bebinger, chair of infection prevention and control committee at HealthAlliance.

Doctors just started seeing cases of H1N1 this past Friday, Bebinger said.

"We had people admitted to the hospital, but these were all people who had underlying pulmonary problems," explained Bebinger.

H1N1 vaccinations are currently not available at HealthAlliance Hospital's Leominster campus but officials hope some of the vaccine will be available soon.

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"In the next two weeks there's a large volume (of vaccine) that's probably going to come out," predicted Bebinger. "Whether the supply will be sufficient to let the general public without chronic illnesses get it, isn't clear," he said.

Bebinger and other HealthAlliance officials discussed proper preventative measures for H1N1, which they called the Three p's: Prevention, preparedness and precaution.

Marianne Pappas, Director of Take Charge, Employee Health and Community Health and Education, offered tips people can follow at home to avoid getting sick.

The tips include washing hands with an alcohol-based sanitizer, cleaning items that have been touched like door knobs, light switches and keyboards and covering your nose and mouth when you cough.

Bebinger advised those inquiring about flu shots and H1N1 vaccinations to contact their primary-care physicians and local hospitals about when vaccinations will become available.

Physicians' offices and hospitals obtain the H1N1 vaccine usually through a distributor or the state and it's normally available on a first- come, first-served basis, said Bebinger.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Heath says more than 660,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine have been distributed to health-care providers in Massachusetts.

The state is scheduled to receive 3.5 million doses of the vaccine for the flu season. Those at the highest risk for developing the virus are pregnant women, children and caregivers of infants less than 6 months old.

Dave Duncan, vice president of facilities for HealthAlliance, said a hospital-wide preparedness plan is in effect for the flu season and officials are doing their best to stay in close contact with the community with new information.

Gail Cormier, infection control coordinator, added that alcohol-based hand sanitizers have been installed at all hospital entrances and employees are required to follow proper hygiene habits while at work.

The most common symptoms of H1N1 and regular flu are similar and include fever, cough and sore throat.

If your skin turns bluish, you can't keep fluids down, vomiting and/or diarrhea occurs, or you have difficulty breathing or feel dizzy, these are warning signs of the virus and you should contact your physician, Bebinger said.

He cautioned, however, that the hospital has "no access to tests specifically for H1N1. Do not expect a diagnostic test specifically for influenza."

H1N1 is also known as "swine flu" and is a highly contagious virus that is similar to influenza viruses that circulate among mammals, most commonly birds and swine.