Hospitals Place Temporary Visitor Restrictions as Influenza Cases Increase Across the Tristate

As influenza A cases in the tristate region climb, area hospitals prepare to put temporary visitor restrictions in place as part of the Community Patient Safety Coalition of Southwest Indiana/Kentucky (CPSC). These restrictions are designed to protect our most vulnerable patients and include:

• No visitors with symptoms of illness such as sudden onset of fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat, and runny nose.
• No visitors under the age of 16.

Masks will be available and encouraged for guests by the facility. Visitors should observe the standard practices of washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes when around others, and as always, visitors who are ill are asked to stay home.

Special arrangements can be made with each facility to allow additional visitors or younger visitors based on circumstances, such as births or end of life.

Vaccines are currently available for flu, RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) and COVID-19. RSV vaccine is recommended for pregnant women and for adults ages 60 and older. Flu vaccine and the updated COVID-19 vaccine are available and recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older.

“Vaccination is an important tool in reducing the spread of influenza, RSV and COVID-19. Through vaccination, we can help protect ourselves and those around us who are at higher risk of severe infection or even death,” according to one CPSC leader. “It’s not too late this season for vaccination, and we encourage individuals to speak with their medical provider about which vaccines are recommended for them.”

The Community Patient Safety Coalition of Southwest Indiana/Kentucky (CPSC) is comprised of clinical leaders from the following hospitals, along with the Indiana Hospital Association and the Vanderburgh County Health Department:

Ascension St. Vincent Evansville

Deaconess Health System (Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois)

Ascension St. Vincent Orthopedic Hospital

Good Samaritan Hospital

Ascension St. Vincent Warrick

Encompass Health Deaconess Rehabilitation

Daviess Community Hospital

Select Specialty Hospital