New Nation-wide Hospital visiting policy

Cornbreadsmom

So one of my friends just had her baby girl tonight. Her husband called to give us her stats and to tell us (since we were planning on seeing the little one tomorrow) that there is a nation-wide policy in effect through the winter that there can be only 2 named visitors for new babies (including spouses) because of the swine flu scare. Crazy! This also means she won't be able to see her 4 year old until she gets released on Sunday, I believe kids can't visit at all.

My partner and I were actually kind of relieved about this since it solves the problem of how to tell my (perfectly nice, but kind of overbearing) parents that we didn't want them coming as soon as I go into labor. However I know this would be hard for those who have a lot of local family that they would like involved with the birth.

This is third hand information so there may be more details that I am not aware of, but thought I'd give everyone the heads up.

Ms.lucky13

Only throught the winter? Darn, that would of been a good excuse to use for DH family

AliBride2006

I'm a nurse and haven't heard of this policy being instituted at my hospital (I work at a large city-based university hospital). I'm not sure that it's actually nation wide.

Bashert628

Wouldn't there have been a newspaper article about this? I can't seem to find one anywhere.

MrsRebecca

I just checked my hospital's website about an hour ago and there is nothing about this policy listed...they are still going by their own policy.

JenGK

I've heard of local hospitals implementing visitor restrictions (Inova here, for example), but nothing nationwide.  Indeed, it even varies among which Inova hospital you are at here.  It may be a recommendation by some organization, but I don't know how such a "nation-wide" policy could ever be enforced.

Bellymamadoula

I'm a doula and work mainly at hospitals. There is no 2 -person limit on visitors, but most of my moms have been asking they wear masks.

 Here (large city hospitals) we've had a ban on all children under aged 12 and had to answer questions (mini interview on physical symptoms for the past week) before being allowed on L and D.

Tess12

I just visited my sister and her baby on Monday and there was no such policy in place.  Lots of regions are implementing restrictions, but I don't think there's one blanket policy.

km014a

well ladies i think the important thing here is that it sounds true enough for those who want a good excuse for intense family members lol..

Cornbreadsmom

I tried googling after we got the call but haven't had luck yet. Like I said, this is third hand info. According to him, the policy went info effect 2 days ago (at least at this particular hospital). We are in the Washington DC area, so maybe I'll take a peak over in the that board and see if anyone has more information as to whether it might be a DC thing.

Kiki-licioius

Seriously??

auslyn804

I work in a hospital, not L&D, and our policy is only 2 visitors and noone under the age of 14.

Cornbreadsmom

LOL I think that's definitely true! Even if this policy turns out to only be for that particular hospital - we are telling the parents they can't come (we are delivery at a different hospital)

 

lite-bright

The only way I can see this being true is if the hospital your friend delivered at is part of a nationwide chain of hospitals, which could then set their own "nationwide" policies -- but that would ONLY affect those hospitals under the same ownership. I'm not even sure whether national (as opposed to regional) hospital chains exist, to be honest. Frankly, I don't think that any government body short of, say, Homeland Security would have the authority to issue an order like that without an act of Congress. Possibly the CDC? But it's far, far more likely that the CDC would issue recommendations or guidelines (which would be public and you can bet the media would be all over that) and individual hospitals would choose whether to comply or not. I know that some regional hospital chains around here have said all their in-state facilities will follow certain visitor bans. But that certainly doesn't affect every single hospital in my state, or even my city -- only the ones owned by that particular chain. 

Cornbreadsmom

Well, I am still trying to find specifics of what the actual policy is/what hospitals are affecting by it. It may be that it is a decision made per hospital/chain. I would guess though that places that see a large volume of patients (which would be any hospital in the DC area, regardless of who owns/runs it) are implementing this strong policy to cover their butts.

The hospital my friend gave birth at has updated their website as of October 12th to state:

The Hospital?s Visiting Policy

• If you have symptoms of flu, such as fever, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches or cough, please do not visit the hospital unless circumstances dictate that you must be here.
• Effective October 12, children under the age of 12 are not allowed to visit any area of the hospital except to accompany a family member to the Emergency Department or to be with a family member in end-of-life circumstances. Anyone under the age of 18 is not allowed to visit these areas: Labor and Delivery, Maternity Suites, High Risk Perinatal Center, NICU, Pediatrics and the OB/GYN Clinic.
• The number of visitors will be restricted on maternal child health units (Maternity, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, High Risk Perinatal Center, Pediatrics). Please call the unit prior to your visit to check the restrictions.

I know it doesn't state only 2 people, but I'm assuming they are leaving the "restrictions" vague so that they don't get inundated with complaints and can change the policy on an as needed basis.

The hospital I plan to deliver at which is not affiliated with the above has almost the exact policy update on their website that was also updated on October 12th.

 

christina5877

Dang. I hope they extend it until march.. I would love to use this for DH's family not to come to the hospital..

rchelone

I'm not sure about postpartum and the general nursery, but our facilities NICU is only allowing parents with no symptoms to enter the NICU. Siblings are not allowed in. This policy is from now through April.

eyunger1

At my hospital, they just instituted no visitors under 16 at all.... in ANY unit of the hospital, because the H1N1 is so prevalent.  I'd be fine with as few visitors as possible, just so I can get to know the baby before we take him home.

kimisuejoia

The Hospital I am delivering at (part of the Intermountain Healthcare system) has instituted this policy for all of their facilities- https://intermountainhealthcare.org/about/news/Pages/home.aspx?NewsID=221

No one under 14 and only two visitors at a time. The thing that sucks is that they consider DH as a visitor and my doula since she is not based out of their hospital (she is from SLC which is about an hour south of me). So basicly I have to choose between my Mom and my doula!

I can understand limiting it to two outside visitors at a time, but I think its really sh!tty that they are counting my husband and my doula as 'visitors'!

neonstarfish

Nation-wide? What about places that don't really have a "flu-season" aka winter?

Kiki-licioius

Hopefully this doesn't apply where DH and I will deliver. My mom lives 2 hours away and if she can't make it in time for delivery then DH will have to stay home with DD. This flu stuff is out of control.