TOLEDO, Ohio — ProMedica announced certain visitor restrictions at Toledo Hospital Tuesday after a flurry of Michigan hospitals initiated similar procedures earlier this week.
Officials said the changes are necessary to prevent the spread of influenza as we enter peak season.
"Just this past week, we saw a big increase in influenza in Ohio," MSN, RN, Head of Infection Prevention and Control at Toledo Hospital Brenda Naylor said.
After a slow start to the flu season in Ohio, cases are now on the rise. ProMedica Toledo Hospital put in place restrictions to prevent the spread of flu throughout the hospital.
"We encourage now to have two visitors at a time at the bedside," Naylor said. "And to encourage good hand hygiene when they're entering and exiting a patient room."
Restrictions also include encouraging anyone exhibiting flu symptoms such as fever, cough and sneezing to not visit the hospital. And anyone under the age of 18 is restricted from visiting the pediatric wing.
Officials want to assure the public that it is never too late to get a flu shot. The vaccine, officials say, covers the most popular strains and gives you the best chances to stay healthy.
"If you have a 40 or 60% chance of winning the lottery, I'm playing the lottery, so I'm getting a flu shot," Naylor said.
Officials suggest visitors take the hospital's prevention tips home with them to help prevent the spread this season.
"If you are sick, I encourage you to stay home," Naylor said. "And also practicing good cough etiquette that means if you're coughing, sneezing, cover your cough, use tissues and also of utmost, do good hand hygiene at all times."
Meanwhile, Mercy Health is not implementing any visitor restrictions yet. Instead, officials said they take a more comprehensive approach and stress prevention all year long.
"It's a 365 day to be prepared to you know vaccinate where you can," Toledo Mercy Health infection and prevention manager Lisa Beauch said. "Keep your home disinfected as much as possible, washing your hands, those kinds of things, cough and respiratory etiquette."
Mercy Health in Perrysburg has hygiene stations set up all around the hospital as well as prevention tip signs. Officials urge people if they are sick, do not visit the hospital; but if you must, the hospital has preventative measures.
"Having things available like the masks, and hand sanitizer," Beauch said. "And tissues for those people coming in to seek care or for whatever reason end of life situation or something like that where they feel like they need to be here."
With officials predicting a long flu season, Beauch stressed it's never too late to get your flu shot.
"We are by no means at the peak of where we will probably be for this year," she added. "So, getting vaccinated if you have not already."
