In The News
H1N1 Flu Update
For the safety of both patients and children, White Memorial Medical Center is encouraging visitors coming to see hospitalized loved ones not to bring children. Children under 16 are not permitted in hospital patient care areas.
“Children are at most risk of getting H1N1 and can spread the disease more readily,” said Byron Williams, MD, chief of infectious disease. “It's for their own protection.” Children under 16 will not be permitted in any patient care areas, including waiting rooms. According to Lynne Whaley, RN, senior vice president of clinical operations, some visitation exceptions are made by nurses on a limited, case-by-case basis, for terminal and intensive-care patients.
Visitors exhibiting any flu-like symptoms will also not be permitted in any patient care areas. Those coming to the hospital to be treated for flu illness will be seen.
WMMC expects to receive its first shipment of the H1N1 flu vaccine within days. However, healthy individuals will NOT be able to receive the flu vaccine through the hospital’s Emergency Department. They are urged to see their private physician. Those who are uninsured and do not have a regular healthcare provider will be able to receive the vaccine through the L.A. County Department of Public Health. However, the Dept. of Public Health is not expected to begin administering H1N1 vaccine through its clinics or vaccination sites until later in October. More information can be found at http://www.lapublichealth.org.
Posted 10/20/09
