CROWN POINT - Effective Oct. 21, Saint Anthony Medical Center temporarily is adding restrictions to patient visitation policies and taking other measures to protect patients and employees from exposure to influenza-related illnesses.Persons under the age of 14 will not be allowed to visit patients. Also, the number of people allowed to visit at a time will be limited to two.
Visitors will be given a sticker to wear for the day. Regular visitation hours of noon to 8:30 p.m. will be enforced. There will be circumstances for which exceptions to those hours will be made. Tours of The Birth Place also will be temporarily suspended.
“During this flu season, our top priority is keeping our patients and staff as risk-free as possible, to ensure the well-being of all concerned,’’ said Dr. John King, vice president of medical affairs. “Doing so will reduce the risk of exposure to H1N1, seasonal flu and other illnesses.’’
In addition to the new visitation policies, reading materials and toys have been removed from waiting rooms as another precaution.
Saint Anthony Medical Center is working with the Lake County Health Department and other local hospitals in response to the escalating number of flu cases.
Saint Anthony has created an informational Web site link at www.stanthonymedicalcenter.com that contains flu updates, health advice and information on visitation. Informational brochures also are available at the main entrance reception desk.
“We look forward to the end of the flu season and hope the outbreak will be minimal as possible so we can return to business as usual as quickly as feasible,’’ King said. “In the meantime, we will do our best to limit flu exposure to our patients, visitors and staff as much as possible.’’
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