Oneida, NY – Effective immediately, Oneida Healthcare has enacted visitor restrictions in order to protect patients due to the recent spread of the flu. Restrictions have been put in place at Oneida Healthcare’s hospital and extended care facility. These restrictions include:
- Children under the age of 12 are prohibited from visiting all inpatient areas, as they are more likely to have and transmit the flu virus.
- A maximum of two visitors per patient or resident at any one time.
Oneida Healthcare also request that you refrain from visiting if you feel ill with any type of upper respiratory problem in order to keep patients and residents safe. If you must visit, you will be required to wear a mask.
Each waiting area will have masks for patients and visitors to wear to cover their cough, along with tissues and hand sanitizer to promote good hand hygiene. “Respiratory and hand hygiene, along with cough etiquette, is always in place at the Hospital, Extended Care Facility, and other locations throughout our Circle of Care,” said Jeanne Miller, RN, CIC, Manager of Infection Prevention and Employee Health at Oneida Healthcare. “We appreciate everyone’s understanding and cooperation during this time.”
The best protection against contracting the flu includes:
- Receiving a flu shot.
- Frequent and thorough hand washing.
- Covering all coughs and sneezes. Those without a handkerchief or a tissue should use the crook of their arm, not their hand.
- Staying home from work, school or social events if you have a fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and pains or other symptoms such as nausea or vomiting sometimes associated with influenza.
- Avoiding people exhibiting symptoms of a flu-like illness.
For those who have flu-like symptoms that are severe and persistent, you are encouraged to contact your healthcare provider. Those seeking treatment for any flu-like symptoms at Oneida Healthcare with upper respiratory problems will be asked to wear a mask and may be isolated from other patients.
For questions, please call Oneida Healthcare’s Infection Prevention Department at 363-6000.
About Oneida Healthcare:
Oneida Healthcare serves an area comprised of approximately 24 communities in Madison and western Oneida counties with a population of approximately 100,000. Operated by Oneida Health Systems, Inc, a New York State not-for-profit corporation, the organization includes a 101-bed acute care hospital, 160-bed extended-care and short-term rehab facility as well as a multitude of primary care and speciality care practices. In the fall of 2017, they will be adding on campus oncology programs followed by wound care and podiatry services in 2018. To learn more about Oneida Healthcare, visit www.oneidahealthcare.org.