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Utah hospitals limiting visitors to fight the flu
H1N1 ? Intermountain Healthcare hospitals also offering unique rapid testing.
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 10/15/2009 02:13:03 PM MDT
Utah hospitals are limiting visitors in an effort to help stop the spread of H1N1 swine and seasonal flu.
University Hospital in Salt Lake City and Intermountain Healthcare hospitals have banned visitors under age 14, and limited all visitors to two at a time -- whether in a patient's room or accompanying them to an emergency room.
The limits don't apply to patients who are receiving end-of-life care. But all visitors must stay home if they are ill -- including those with a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Visitors also are asked to wash their hands frequently.
"Overall, people are taking it in stride," said Jess Gomez, a spokesman for Intermountain Healthcare. "It's an inconvenience for some, but once they better understand the reasons for the restrictions -- which is to protect their loved ones in the hospital and the people who are caring for them -- they are fine."
At Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, patients can learn whether they have H1N1 flu less than four hours after their test arrives in its Central Laboratory.
The lab is the only one in Utah that can provide the two-part rapid results test for potential H1N1 patients who haven't been hospitalized, Intermountain said.
? A respiratory virus panel test detects a range of common respiratory viruses, including the H1N1 virus;
? A confirmatory test focuses on seasonal influenza and 2009 H1N1.
Both tests analyze the patient's specimen to determine the presence of viral DNA.
The tests allow faster treatment with antiviral drugs, which work best when they're given within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, said Debbie Bennion, the lab's supervisor of molecular pathology.
Rapid treatment and laboratory testing are recommended for people who are at high risk for complications from the flu. They include those who are pregnant or have chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and heart or kidney disease.
H1N1 ? Intermountain Healthcare hospitals also offering unique rapid testing.
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 10/15/2009 02:13:03 PM MDT
Utah hospitals are limiting visitors in an effort to help stop the spread of H1N1 swine and seasonal flu.
University Hospital in Salt Lake City and Intermountain Healthcare hospitals have banned visitors under age 14, and limited all visitors to two at a time -- whether in a patient's room or accompanying them to an emergency room.
The limits don't apply to patients who are receiving end-of-life care. But all visitors must stay home if they are ill -- including those with a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Visitors also are asked to wash their hands frequently.
"Overall, people are taking it in stride," said Jess Gomez, a spokesman for Intermountain Healthcare. "It's an inconvenience for some, but once they better understand the reasons for the restrictions -- which is to protect their loved ones in the hospital and the people who are caring for them -- they are fine."
At Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, patients can learn whether they have H1N1 flu less than four hours after their test arrives in its Central Laboratory.
The lab is the only one in Utah that can provide the two-part rapid results test for potential H1N1 patients who haven't been hospitalized, Intermountain said.
? A respiratory virus panel test detects a range of common respiratory viruses, including the H1N1 virus;
? A confirmatory test focuses on seasonal influenza and 2009 H1N1.
Both tests analyze the patient's specimen to determine the presence of viral DNA.
The tests allow faster treatment with antiviral drugs, which work best when they're given within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, said Debbie Bennion, the lab's supervisor of molecular pathology.
Rapid treatment and laboratory testing are recommended for people who are at high risk for complications from the flu. They include those who are pregnant or have chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and heart or kidney disease.
