Tulsa World: Hospital staffs work to keep control of flu

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Hospital staffs work to keep control of flu
Protocols are in place as a precaution.

By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
Published: 11/15/2009 2:29 AM
Last Modified: 11/15/2009 5:24 AM

Hospital staffs are doing what they can to prevent their patients from exposure to the novel H1N1 virus, spokeswomen for Tulsa's five major hospitals said.

At SouthCrest Hospital, medical staff use universal precautions protocol and wear protective masks any time they are in a room with a patient with flu symptoms, said SouthCrest spokeswoman Melissa Bogle.

"In addition to utilizing enhanced protection protocols with patients, St. Francis Health System has strongly encouraged its employees to get vaccinated for both seasonal flu and H1N1 influenza (as vaccine became available), especially those staff members in high-risk categories," said a hospital spokeswoman.

St. John Medical Center, Hillcrest Medical Center and Oklahoma State University Medical Center have also encouraged medical staff to be vaccinated and to follow additional hygienic precautions to prevent the spread of the virus to patients, hospital spokeswomen said.

"To minimize risk to patients, staff and other visitors, St. John visitors policy states that anyone with fever, severe cough, general illness or other flu-like symptoms should not enter the hospital until they are free of symptoms for 48 hours," said St. John Medical Center spokeswoman Cheena Pazzo. "Additionally, St. John Medical Center restricts children from visiting critical-care areas."

Most hospitals post signs encouraging visitors to leave the premises if they have influenza symptoms, and most provide hand sanitizer, face masks and tissues for patients or visitors throughout the hospitals, they said.

"As a precaution, we separate any patients presenting with flu-like symptoms in certain areas of the hospital, especially in the emergency department, for the health and safety of other patients," said Elizabeth Wallace, spokeswoman for Hillcrest Medical Center.

She said the hospital has provided every medical staff employee pocket-sized bottles of hand sanitizer, and foaming hand-sanitizer dispensers are located throughout the hospital for anyone who wants to use it.

Suspected and known flu patients are isolated, and visitors to those patients with the flu or flu-like symptoms are asked to wear face masks, gowns and gloves, they said.

Kim Archer 581-8315
kim.archer@tulsaworld.com By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer

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Elusive, the burbs (11/16/2009 3:55:05 AM)

I'm surprised St. John is only asking people to wait 48 hours after their symptoms have subsided when others are recommending 7 days.

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