Hospitals tighten rules to prevent swine flu's spread
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Leife and Joe are standing guard at the entrance to Providence St. Peter Hospital.
They're guarding against the spread of swine flu by checking everyone who comes in. Anyone with symptoms gets a face mask.
The tough new visitor restrictions went into effect today as hospitals fight to protect patients against the virus.
Two children's hospitals in our area are already prohibiting some visitors, and now everyone going into the main hospitals in Olympia and Centralia will have have to pass through screening.
At Providence St. Peter Hospital, officials have closed all but two of the entrances, and there are strict limits for those under 18 years old -- you have to be a relative of a terminally ill patient or an immediate family member of a regular patient.
And kids are all getting masks.
The tightest restrictions are for the maternity wards, where no children are allowed.
At the hospital on Thursday, a woman about to go into labor had to leave her children with their grandmother at the door.
But most visitors we talked to said they favored the screening and tighter rules, despite the inconvenience.
"I appreciate their thoughtfulness of care being provided," said Marilyn Lundberg, who was visiting.
The Olympia hospital and its sister facility in Centralia jumped to this second phase after the number of flu patients hit a certain level.
"In a 24-hour period more than 10 percent of the patients presenting in our emergency center were presenting with influenza-like illness symptoms," said hospital Vice President Jill Cooper. "Not necessarily having the flu, but symptoms."
If they have to jump to the next prevention level, they would lock down the hospital and allow only adults who are immediate family members to visit. No children would be allowed.
So far, most hospitals haven't even had to go to the second level of restrictions.
At Harborview Medical Center, Swedish Hospital and Virginia Mason in Seattle, Tacoma General, Allenmore and Good Samaritan there are masks and hand sanitizer, but no screening.
Visitors are urged to stay home if they are sick, though.
St. Joseph in Tacoma, St. Francis in Federal Way and Enumclaw Regional have no screening in place, but only siblings are allowed in birth centers.
Children's Hospital in Seattle and Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma are screening patients at entrances, and no children under 12 are allowed to visit.
Be sure to check with your hospital before visiting for the latest rules.
They're guarding against the spread of swine flu by checking everyone who comes in. Anyone with symptoms gets a face mask.
The tough new visitor restrictions went into effect today as hospitals fight to protect patients against the virus.
Two children's hospitals in our area are already prohibiting some visitors, and now everyone going into the main hospitals in Olympia and Centralia will have have to pass through screening.
At Providence St. Peter Hospital, officials have closed all but two of the entrances, and there are strict limits for those under 18 years old -- you have to be a relative of a terminally ill patient or an immediate family member of a regular patient.
And kids are all getting masks.
The tightest restrictions are for the maternity wards, where no children are allowed.
At the hospital on Thursday, a woman about to go into labor had to leave her children with their grandmother at the door.
But most visitors we talked to said they favored the screening and tighter rules, despite the inconvenience.
"I appreciate their thoughtfulness of care being provided," said Marilyn Lundberg, who was visiting.
The Olympia hospital and its sister facility in Centralia jumped to this second phase after the number of flu patients hit a certain level.
"In a 24-hour period more than 10 percent of the patients presenting in our emergency center were presenting with influenza-like illness symptoms," said hospital Vice President Jill Cooper. "Not necessarily having the flu, but symptoms."
If they have to jump to the next prevention level, they would lock down the hospital and allow only adults who are immediate family members to visit. No children would be allowed.
So far, most hospitals haven't even had to go to the second level of restrictions.
At Harborview Medical Center, Swedish Hospital and Virginia Mason in Seattle, Tacoma General, Allenmore and Good Samaritan there are masks and hand sanitizer, but no screening.
Visitors are urged to stay home if they are sick, though.
St. Joseph in Tacoma, St. Francis in Federal Way and Enumclaw Regional have no screening in place, but only siblings are allowed in birth centers.
Children's Hospital in Seattle and Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma are screening patients at entrances, and no children under 12 are allowed to visit.
Be sure to check with your hospital before visiting for the latest rules.