Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are continuing to restrict visitors to adults 18 years of age and older. The restrictions will remain in place until further notice.
The organizations have been experiencing an increase in patients in the Emergency Departments and inpatient settings with flu and flu-like symptoms.
An additional visitor restriction is in place for the Maternity, Nursery and Pediatric Departments, as these patients are at greater risk of complications due to the flu. Only parents, grandparents and birthing coaches may visit maternity, the nursery and pediatrics at this time.
The hospitals ask that you not visit if you feel ill with any type of upper respiratory problem. Please stay home and delay your visit to keep yourself and the patients and residents safe.
The best protection against contracting influenza includes:
- Frequent and thorough hand washing.
- Covering all coughs and sneezes. If you don’t have a handkerchief or a tissue use the crook of your arm not your hand.
- Staying home from work, school, or social events if you have a fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and pains or other symptoms like nausea or vomiting sometimes associated with influenza.
- Avoiding people exhibiting symptoms of a flu-like illness.
If you have flu-like symptoms and they are severe and persistent you should contact your healthcare provider.
The hospitals practice “Respiratory Etiquette” in their Emergency Departments, Urgent Cares and Primary Care Medical Offices. Each waiting area has masks for patients to wear to cover their cough, tissues and hand sanitizer for good hand hygiene. If you are seeking treatment and have any flu-like symptoms with upper respiratory problems, you will be asked to wear a mask and may be isolated from other patients.
Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.
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Erin Gigliotti
Manager, Marketing and Media Relations
Mohawk Valley Health System
(315) 624-5581
egigliot@mvnhealth.com