Hospitals stop the swine with visiting restrictions
Photo Credit: Collin Hoofnagle
A sign warns vistors entering Upper Chesapeake about the new restrictions. The restrictions about visitation went into effect last month.
Alex Bahr, Copy Editor
November 17, 2009
Filed under News
On Tuesday, October 13, secretary of the Guidance Department Ricki Malone waited anxiously in the waiting room of Upper Chesapeake Hospital with three of her grandchildren.
In the next room, Malone’s daughter was in labor. As Malone heard the first cries of her sixth grandchild, Evan, as he came into the world, a nurse entered the room and informed her that the new child was a boy. Malone was one of the first people to know.
If little Evan had been born less than a week later, Malone would not have had this opportunity to share with her grandchildren.
Since October 19, several hospitals across the country, including Upper Chesapeake, have placed restrictions on visiting patients, in order to reduce the spread of swine flu.
At Upper Chesapeake, this minimum age to visit patients is 12. Also, a patient can only have two visitors at a time, according to signs posted throughout Upper Chesapeake.
In some hospitals, restrictions apply to those as old as 18.
Because Malone’s daughter’s three children are all under 12, she would have had to stay home with them.
For Malone, who has witnessed all six of her grandchildren’s births, this restriction is not necessarily fair. “I would have been very upset,” she said. “It’s a long time to wait to get to see a baby.” Plus, the new mother would have to decide between relatives, contributing to potential conflict.
But although it’s not necessarily fair according to some like Malone, the restrictions are needed with the current state of health. Since April, swine flu has been spreading. Children are known to run a higher risk of contracting swine flu, and are infectious for longer, even after flu symptoms subside.
Sixty-two percent of reported swine flu cases have occurred in people under 18, according to Consumer Report’s Health Report. Already over 200 children have died of swine flu.
Although Malone feels that “people should have the ability to use their own judgment,” she does agree with the restrictions. “I wouldn’t want to put the health of the baby or my daughter at risk, so I have to follow the rules,” she said.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist for Upper Chesapeake Mark Sanders agrees with Malone. He said, “I have not heard too many complaints yet, but the new restrictions are absolutely a wise idea, for patients and family.”
The ban will be in effect until springtime, about the time flu season ends.
Alex Bahr can be reached for comment at abahr@jcpatriot.com.