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News
October 30, 2009 - Detroit Medical Center to Implement Visitation Restrictions Throughout Peak Flu Season
On Monday, November 2, the nine hospitals and institutes of the Detroit Medical Center will implement a new visitation policy to protect patients and families from getting and/or spreading the flu virus this season. Beginning on that date, Detroit Medical Center will restrict visits with admitted patients to parents, legal guardians, and guests age 18 and older. This temporary restriction will remain in effect during peak flu season.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) more than half of the hospitalizations from 2009 H1N1 flu reported by 27 states from September 1 and October 10 were people age 24 and younger. About 23-percent of the deaths reported from 28 states during this period were in this age group; 45-percent of the cases are from 0-18 years of age.
In addition to visitation restrictions, the Detroit Medical Center has placed information on their Web site to educate the public on preventing the spread of H1N1 and the seasonal flu at http://www.dmc.org/flu. Educational posters and hand sanitizer stations are also located throughout the hospital as part of the overall strategy to protect patients and families.
Should families arrive at the hospital to visit an admitted patient, during normal business hours with children under the age of 18, they may be asked to wear masks if they have flu-like symptoms. They may also be asked to remain in a designated area until the patient’s visit ends.
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