The first official week of the 2016-17 flu season has arrived with influenza patients now being treated locally and Minnesota hospitals beginning to restrict visitors.
Riverwood Healthcare Center would like to remind the public to stay home if you have been ill for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care. Limit visits to hospital patients from children under 18, except on a case by case compassionate basis. Also limit your visits to one patient instead of traveling from room to room to greet multiple patients.
“Your fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine or 7 days have passed from the onset of your respiratory infection before visiting the hospital,” Kathy Galliger, interim infection control nurse at Riverwood. “This is the period of contagiousness where you can transmit to another person. Those who have been exposed to influenza can also transmit influenza to others, one to two days before they become ill.”
Upon entering the Riverwood hospital, signage reminds visitors to not visit if they have been ill with a respiratory illness. Patients should cover their coughs or sneezes with a tissue or to wear a mask until they are placed into precautions to help prevent the transmission of influenza-like-illness to our patients and staff.
“We are asking visitors to do the same thing we ask our employees,” Galliger explains. “Stay home if you are ill! Our patients in the hospital are already sick and their recovery is that much more difficult if they get ill with a respiratory or gastrointestinal illness.”
Hand washing signage is placed throughout the hospital and clinics to help remind caregivers, patients and visitors to prevent the transmission of infection. Please do your part in protecting the safety of our patients.
All the Riverwood clinics have flu vaccine available, and you can call to make an appointment for a vaccination by calling our flu line at 1-888-270-1882. Remember it takes approximately 10 days to reduce the chance of you becoming ill with influenza after vaccination, but it is not too late to be vaccinated.
For tips on how to treat cold and flu symptoms and prevent the spread of the virus, see Riverwood’s fact sheet on “What to Do for Colds and Flu”.
