STERLING, Colo. (Jan. 16, 2013) — With
the number of cases of influenza on the rise in Colorado, Sterling Regional
MedCenter is enacting measures to protect patients and staff.
Visitors under the age of 12 are restricted from visiting
patient care areas at the hospital. Children under 12 are most likely to carry
and spread influenza. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one of the
best ways to protect patients, hospital staff and other visitors is to
implement visitation restrictions for children.
Patient care areas include
patient rooms, medical imaging, speech, occupational, and physical therapy, and
outpatient services. Children may be in the public areas as long as they are
accompanied by an adult. Public areas are waiting areas, the lobby, cafeteria
and Gift Shop.
Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Please contact Infection Preventionist Katie Ruff, (970) 521-3107, Phylis
Helgoth, (970) 521-3180 or the administrative rep on duty for the hospital.
Hospital leaders will announce when the restrictions are no longer necessary.
The flu is a contagious disease and
contributes to more than 36,000 preventable deaths annually in the United
States. Young children, people 65 years of age or older, pregnant women and
people with conditions such as heart, lung or kidney disease or a weakened
immune system are at high risk for getting the flu, which can cause fever and
pneumonia and make existing medical conditions worse.
About Banner Health
Banner Health is one of the
largest, nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns or
manages 23 acute-care hospitals, long-term care centers and an array of other
services including family clinics, home care services, a nursing registry and
home medical equipment services in seven states: Alaska, Arizona, California,
Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming.
To learn more about Banner Health, go to www.BannerHealth.com.
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