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Syndication
Florida Hospital Announces Changes in Visitation Policy Amid H1N1 Concerns
ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 19, 2009 – As concerns regarding H1N1 continue to mount, Florida Hospital, which includes eight campuses in the Central Florida area, is making changes to safeguard patients, employees and guests. Effective today, Florida Hospital announced temporary changes to its visitation policy.
“These changes were made to protect some of the most vulnerable patients from the H1N1 flu, which include children and pregnant women,” said Dr. Scott Brady, medical director of Florida Hospital Centra Care. “It is very important to protect our patients as well as our employees and guests.”
The new visitation policy will restrict children 12 years of age or younger from visiting Florida Hospital for Children, which includes the following units: Neonatal Intensive Care Units, General Pediatrics Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Progressive Care Unit, Pediatric Oncology Unit, Pediatrics Holding and Pediatrics Outpatient Unit. The Obstetrics Units will also restrict visitor access to children 12 years of age or younger unless they are a sibling of the baby. Visitors must be well and not exhibit any flu-like symptoms, which include fever, cough, and/or sore throat, in order to visit any unit in the hospital. Other units in the hospital will operate under their current visitation policies.
“Florida Hospital for Children is following a national trend by restricting visitor access to children,” said Dr. Ben Guedes, chief of staff for Florida Hospital for Children. “We recognize this may seem like an inconvenience but we believe it is in the best interest of our community to implement this policy change.”
Florida Hospital also put up posters on units affected by the policy change to help alert visitors to the modifications. In addition, patients who are diagnosed with H1N1 will receive an informational brochure with what to expect. The hospital also created a flyer that shows the different types of masks caregivers will be wearing this flu season.
For media inquiries only, contact Florida Hospital Media Relations at 407-303-8217.
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