Wayne UNC Health Care Temporarily Limits Hospital Visitation to Protect Patients from Flu

Our primary goal at Wayne UNC Health Care is to provide the best quality of care in an environment that is safe for our patients. To protect them, at times we must manage their exposure to illnesses that are easily spread, like the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

At Wayne UNC, we carefully monitor flu activity levels in our hospital and the community.  When certain thresholds are met, we implement precautions to minimize the spread of illness. One way we do this is by limiting the age of visitors allowed in our patient areas.

• In order to protect patients during the peak of flu season, Wayne UNC Health Care will implement new visitor restrictions effective Tuesday, December 31 at 8:00 a.m.
  
  
• Visitors must be 13 years of age or older.  This applies to all patient rooms and includes the emergency department, labor and delivery, surgery center, registration areas and waiting rooms. 
  
  
• The Wayne UNC team also asks that individuals who have been sick with fever, runny nose, nasal drainage or a sore throat, not visit the hospital unless they are receiving medical care. 

“During this flu season, Wayne UNC Health Care has seen 121 positive flu cases with 70 of those being seen in the last two weeks,” said Chanda Newsome, Director of Infection Control at Wayne UNC. “We’ve put these temporary precautions in place to maintain a healing environment for our patients, protecting them against exposure to the flu.”

“Children, the elderly, and those that have an impaired immune system are at an increased risk for getting ill from the flu,” said Newsome. “The flu can spread from person to person before you become ill and can spread for up to seven days after becoming ill.”

As an alternative, parents can encourage their children to write letters to a loved one or stay connected through Skype and Facetime.

The Wayne UNC team suggests all individuals over the age of six months receive their annual flu shot along with practicing proper respiratory and hand hygiene. Hand hygiene is the most effective way to stop the spread of germs. Good hand hygiene includes washing hands regularly with soap and water or with an alcohol-based gel. Be sure to cover all surfaces of the hands, including between the fingers and the nailbeds. Respiratory hygiene includes covering your cough, wearing a mask if unable to control respiratory secretions, and of course, hand hygiene.

At Wayne UNC, we are committed to putting our patients first by providing safe, quality care. Taking this precaution ensures that we reduce the potential of exposure for our patients and guests.