Hospital officials in RI impose new restrictions on visitors
(NECN: Josh Brogadir, Providence, RI) – Today, a major Rhode Island hospital network announced children under the age of 18 are barred from visiting patients. The move affects at least four hospitals in the state — and is a move to stop the spread of the H1N1 (swine) flu virus. In hopes of stopping the spread of the H1N1 flu virus, a major Rhode Island hospital network announced children under the age of 18 are barred from visiting patients. The move affects four hospitals in the state. While not seeing a swine flu virus spike yet, hospital administrators in Rhode Island asked themselves “why take a chance,” before imposing those new restrictions on visitors. For months, the Centers for Disease Control has been warning that young adults and children age 24 and under are most vulnerable to getting the H1N1 flu virus. That’s why a group of Rhode Island hospitals is getting prepared. Lifespan – which includes Rhode Island, Hasbro Children’s, The Miriam, and Newport Hospitals – is no longer allowing children younger than 18 or people with flu-like symptoms to visit patients, for fear the swine flu could spread. “We understand that visitors and family are a very important part of a patient’s recovery process and we understand that this can be a hardship for them and we appreciate their understanding and cooperation,” said Lifespan Director of Media Relations Linda Shelton. The new restrictions took effect Monday and it’s the kind of issue that’s causing mixed reaction among patients and their families. “The people in the hospital could catch something from the kids. The kids could catch something in the hospital when their immune systems are already beaten down by having the flu. So I think it protects them a lot more. I think it’s a great idea,” said Nancy Silva of Warwick, on her way into a monthly class at the Miriam Hospital in Providence. Dwayne Sheehan of Cumberland is on his way out. He’s been visiting his fiancee who had a stroke a few weeks ago. “Now this is a great hospital. I’m not putting the hospital down. If their mother or father has cancer, why aren’t they allowed to go see their parents? Ok, especially if it’s in the late stages. Put a mask on, you’ll be covered,” Sheehan said. Shelton says there are exceptions for those type of hospital visits. “If there is a person who is nearing the end of their life. If there are special circumstances surrounding a birth. We had someone who their birth coach was 17 and needed to make that exception and that was certainly allowed, and so those types of examples. We’ll work with families as much as we can,” Shelton said. The South and Midwest are showing early spikes in the H1N1 flu virus already this September. A children’s hospital in Cincinnati this week began only allowing patients’ parents or guardians to visit and another hospital removed toys from its waiting rooms – to prevent spreading germs between patients. The hospitals in Rhode Island are not the first in New England to take these measures. Earlier this month, Concord Hospital in New Hampshire restricted kids younger than 18 from visiting maternity and pediatric wards, citing the high risk involved with pregnant patients who could get the virus.
