Preparing for a busy flu season, hospitals are looking for ways to prevent a larger outbreak and protect their vulnerable patients from coming down with a potentially fatal flu strain.
One hospital system that is taking extraordinary steps is Moses Cone Health System, which is not allowing visiting young people under the age of 18 in the system's lobbies, waiting rooms, and patient rooms. The multi-hospital system in Greensboro, NC, has decided to implement this policy because young people are more likely to catch the H1N1 flu virus, according to the health system.
"Every patient in our hospitals has a condition that would make them more vulnerable should they catch the flu," said Joan Wessman, chief nursing officer at Moses Cone Health System. "Doing everything possible to avoid exposing them to the flu is a common-sense way we can all help keep them safe."
The decision comes three months after a staff member may have unknowingly exposed babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Moses Cone's The Women's Hospital of Greensboro during a 12-hour period.
The infected person, a respiratory therapist, believed she had recovered from cold symptoms and did not know she had been in contact with an H1N1 patient. Moses Cone said the employer acted appropriately.
The health system used the situation to remind staff about infectious disease protocols and gave newborns, NICU parents, and staff Tamiflu as a precaution; no infants were reportedly infected with H1N1.
"I know it is hard telling a child she can't meet her new brother or sister," said Cindy Farrand, vice president of administrator at Moses Cone's The Women's Hospital, about the new policy. "But the flu seems to be hitting young people the hardest, and they are the ones we need to protect the most."
Moses Cone might be at the start of a trend. Jim Lott, executive vice president of the Hospital Association of Southern California in Los Angeles, says there are many hospitals that are considering the policy and a handful that are implementing it.
A presidential panel last month reported that swine flu could infect half of the U.S. population this fall and winter and cause as many as 90,000 deaths. That is more than twice the number of a normal flu season.
The first H1N1 flu virus vaccines are expected early next month with most of the first six to seven million in nasal spray form. Federal officials expect 40 million doses will be available by the middle of October.