Indianapolis NICU will continue
restrictions until April 29
INDIANAPOLIS,
Indiana – As the number of flu cases has subsided, Franciscan St. Francis
Health and other area hospitals will remove visitor restrictions, effective
Wednesday, April 13.
Franciscan
St. Francis implemented the temporary policy
March 11 at its Indianapolis, Mooresville and Carmel hospitals and Franciscan
Surgery Center at the request of the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD)
and the Indianapolis Coalition for Public Safety.
“That
extra line of protection was needed to reduce the risk of exposing our
patients, visitors and staff to this season’s flu virus,” said Chief Nursing
Officer Susan McRoberts, MSN, RN. “Certainly, we appreciate the public’s
cooperation and understanding during that time.”
However,
Franciscan St. Francis Health will maintain temporary visitation restrictions
to its neonatal intensive care unit until April 29. The restrictions include:
- Only immediate family as
identified by patient and patient's designated support person.
- No visitors under 18 years of
age unless they are seeking medical care or are parents of pediatric
patients.
- No visitors with symptoms
suggestive of influenza.
“While flu activity is going down in Marion
County, we must continue to protect ourselves and each other by doing simple
things such as washing hands frequently with soap and water and covering our
coughs,” said Virginia Caine, MD, MCPHD director. “It is important for anyone with
the flu or flu-like symptoms to avoid visiting someone in the hospital and to
stay home from work until symptoms are resolved.”
