Skiff limits visitors to keep H1N1 under control

To protect patients from the H1N1 influenza virus, Skiff Medical Center is asking that parents not bring children to the hospital unless they are seeking medical treatment or testing for the children.

“We’re working very hard to stop the spread of the H1N1 virus,” said Jennifer Jordan, RN, Director of Skiff Home Care and Jasper County Public Health Nursing Service. “One way hospitals are doing this is to restrict visitors under the age of 18, unless the child is coming to receive care themselves.”

There are two exceptions: Children will be allowed to visit Hospice patients, and under-18 siblings of newborns will be allowed to visit the obstetrics unit after being screened for flu-like symptoms.

“We certainly don’t want to discourage anyone from coming to the hospital for medical care,” Jordan said. “But we know that hundreds of children in our county have been exposed to the H1N1 virus, and we want to keep the virus from spreading to our patients. Plus, it will protect healthy children from exposure to patients who may have the flu.”