On Friday, January 22, Ukiah Valley Medical Center relaxed H1N1 visitation restrictions. Visitors may once again enter the hospital through the Family Birth Center, Main Entrance or Emergency Entrance (the South Entrance remains locked), and individual patients may have more overall visitors—details are department-specific. Hospital employees will continue to screen all people who wish to visit hospital patients, and visitors with flu-like symptoms will not be permitted to do so. Healthy children are also, once again, allowed to visit patients.
“We are pleased to announce that there have been no new confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu at the hospital recently. Infections peaked last November, so we restricted hospital access to protect our most vulnerable populations. Now, we’ll still carefully screen visitors for flu-like symptoms, but unless there’s another wave of flu, we should not have to restrict hospital visitation because of H1N1,” said Infection Prevention Director Sue Mason, RN.
Hand hygiene continues to be the best way to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus. Every hospital entrance has hand sanitizers available for visitors. “If you’re sick, please don’t visit hospital patients. Help us keep them safe by letting them concentrate on getting better without adding your illness to their list,” said Mason.
In addition to screening hospital visitors, UVMC is protecting the community by partnering with Mendocino County Health and Human Services Community Health Branch (Public Health), encouraging volunteers to assist with the county’s free H1N1 Vaccination Clinic. Last Friday, several hospital employees helped a well-organized effort to vaccinate almost 1,000 people in four hours.
“We really appreciated the hospital’s help in vaccinating so many people against H1N1,” said Public Health Officer Marvin Trotter, MD. Working in collaboration, Public Health and UVMC were able to keep clinic wait times down and serve more people than in previous clinics.
“Public Health really managed the clinic well,” said Sue Mason. “No one had to wait longer than about a half hour, and many people didn’t have to wait at all. Dr. Trotter and his team deserve a big pat on the back for their excellent planning.”
If you are interested in getting vaccinated against H1N1, Public Health will host another free clinic in Willits:
Sunday, January 31st
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Baechtel Grove Middle School
1150 Magnolia Street, Willits, Ca
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275 Hospital Drive, Ukiah, CA 95482
707-462-3111