Influenza and H1N1 Information
Hospital Visitor Guidelines
New University Hospital Visitor Guidelines to Help Reduce Impact of Influenza on Patients
As the number of novel H1N1 and seasonal flu cases begins to rise in Utah, University of Utah Health Care is taking steps to help reduce the impact of the flu on its patients and staff. One important step we’re taking is the implementation of new guidelines for visitors. These guidelines are necessary to protect patients who are most at risk of developing serious complications.
To fight the flu, we need everyone’s help. If you are a patient or family member, please read the following guidelines carefully. We recognize these restrictions may be inconvenient and reflect a new way of doing things at our facilities, but we believe they are vitally important to reduce the impact of the flu on hospital patients.
As always, we defer to our physicians and nursing staff to make common sense decisions regarding visitation in end-of-life situations. If you have questions or concerns, please talk with your nurse.
Our new visitation guidelines consist of the following, for everyone's safety:
- No visitors under 14. No one under the age of 14 is allowed in the hospital unless they are a patient.
- No more than two visitors at a time. This applies to both visitors in inpatient rooms and those accompanying patients to the emergency department. This will not apply to patients in end-of-life situations; please check with nursing staff.
- No sick visitors. If you have fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, please stay home.
- Patients should wear a mask. Wear a mask if you have flu or cold symptoms, as a patient.
- Visitors and patients should wash their hands frequently. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
- Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue or your upper sleeve.
