H1N1 Updates

• Code Flu Clip & Save (pdf)

Temporary Visitor Restrictions

Because of a high level of concern for patient and staff health during the flu season, St. James Mercy Hospital is temporarily restricting visitor access to inpatient units and the emergency room, starting October 21 until further notice. This includes:

• No visitors under 14 are allowed in the hospital unless they are a patient.
• No more than two visitors are allowed at a time in inpatient rooms and in the ER. This does not apply to patients in end-of-life situations.
• Any visitors with fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea should stay home.
• Patients should ask for a mask if they have flu or cold symptoms.
• Visitors and patients should wash their hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
• Visitors and patients should cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or on their upper sleeve.
• For more information visit nyhealth.gov or cdc.gov
• Or contact:
  • The Dept. of Health Flu Hotline at 800-808-1987,
  • St. James Mercy's Code Flu hotline at 324-8705.

Hornell, NY...As H1N1 influenza (swine flu) continues to spread in New York State, medical experts ask local residents to follow basic guidelines if they or family members suspect flu-like illness.

Bradley Truax, MD, Chief Medical Officer at St. James Mercy, urges residents who are not seriously ill to avoid going to hospital emergency departments. Instead, they should contact their primary care doctor or a health clinic.

“We’re asking for everyone’s help to make sure that emergency department treatment remains available for people who truly need it,” Dr. Truax said. “In addition to caring for people with severe cases of H1N1 flu, local hospitals still have to manage their regular patient caseload.”

“We realize that many people are concerned because of the number of cases of this new flu in our state, and the fact that some people have died from the virus,” he said. “That’s understandable, but it may help to know that for most individuals, H1N1 flu will be no worse than the normal seasonal flu.” Most people recover from seasonal or H1N1 flu without needing medical treatment.

He emphasized that mildly sick individuals or those who do not actually have the flu create risk by coming to a hospital emergency department because:
• the individual could get the flu from someone who is waiting there;
• the individual could give the flu to others; and
• the individual could delay important health care for seriously-ill persons waiting to be treated.

In the event of a declared flu emergency, St. James Mercy has developed a “Code Flu” plan to direct people to appropriate locations for assessment. “If we declare a flu emergency at St. James Mercy (called a ‘Code Flu’) residents who need to be assessed by medical personnel will be directed to an off-site location,” said Dr. Truax. “This will help reduce traffic in the emergency department, and the potential to infect other patients and staff.”

Flu-like illness includes fever, chills, headache, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, tiredness, and sometimes diarrhea or vomiting.

The best thing people can do if they have flu symptoms is to stay home, reiterated Dr. Truax. “But for those who truly need to be assessed, they should first contact their doctor. If we have a major surge in flu and activate our ‘Code Flu’ plan, that will also help address an extreme situation.” St. James Mercy will advertise its Code Flu plan through radio, television and newspapers, with instructions on where to go for assessment if a flu emergency is declared.

For more information on H1N1 influenza and caring for sick individuals visit www.nyhealth.gov, www.cdc.gov, or www.stjamesmercy.org, or call the NYS Dept. of Health Flu Hotline at 800-808-1987.

Hornell, NY...With growing concerns about H1N1 influenza (swine flu), medical experts suggest taking commonsense steps when caring for themselves or someone with the flu.

Bradley Truax, MD, Chief Medical Officer at St. James Mercy, urges people with non-serious flu symptoms to contact their primary care doctor or a health clinic, rather than go to the emergency department.

Flu symptoms include fever, chills, headache, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, tiredness, and sometimes diarrhea or vomiting. Most people recover from seasonal or H1N1 flu without needing medical treatment, Dr. Truax said. “In fact, most flu patients can be best cared for and are most comfortable at home.”

Here are the recommended guidelines for caring for sick individuals at home:
• Give them medications such as acetaminophen to help reduce fever.
• Make sure they get rest and plenty of fluids.
• Individuals under the age of 19 should never be given aspirin to reduce pain or fever, because it could cause a rare but potentially serious condition called Reye’s Syndrome.
• Individuals who are sick should stay at home until the fever has disappeared for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

Some people should seek medical care if they have the flu. Individuals who have conditions that may result in more severe illness from influenza, should call or see their health care provider if they have flu symptoms, including: • women who are pregnant • children younger than five • persons 65 and older • persons of any age who have a medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease, or asthma Their healthcare providers may decide to prescribe medications for the flu. You should monitor sick individuals and seek medical attention for the following: • Flu patients who become dehydrated. Children in particular can become dehydrated in a short period of time. Signs of dehydration include dry mouth and tongue, lack of tears, dark circles or sunken eyes, decreased urine output and lethargy (extreme drowsiness or pronounced lack of interest in their surroundings). If these signs occur, call your healthcare provider. Get emergency care if your healthcare provider cannot be reached. • Flu patient who have severe or worsening illness. In adults, the signs of severe or worsening illness are rapid or difficulty breathing, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, bluish skin color, dizziness or confusion, increasing fever, or severe persistent vomiting. In children, the signs of severe or worsening illness include increased fever, rash, rapid or difficult breathing, bluish skin color, irritability, lack of responsiveness (not waking up or not interacting), and not drinking enough fluids.

Here are the most important ways to protect yourself and others from getting sick: • Keep the sick person away from other people as much as possible. • Remind the sick person to cover their cough, and frequently wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub, especially after coughing and/or sneezing. • Have everyone in the household clean their hands often, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. • Ask your health care provider if household contacts of the sick person – particularly those contacts who may be pregnant or have chronic health conditions – should take antiviral medications to prevent the flu. • If you are in a group considered at high risk for complications from influenza, you should attempt to avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with household members who are sick with influenza. If close contact with a sick individual is unavoidable, consider wearing a face mask, if available. The best thing people can do if they have flu symptoms is to stay home, reiterated Dr. Truax. “But for those who truly need to be assessed, they should first contact their doctor. If we have a major surge in flu and activate our ‘Code Flu’ plan, that will also help address an extreme situation.” St. James Mercy will advertise its Code Flu plan through radio, television and newspapers, with instructions on where to go for assessment if a flu emergency is declared.

For more information on H1N1 influenza and caring for sick individuals at home visit www.nyhealth.gov, www.cdc.gov, or www.stjamesmercy.org, or call the NYS Dept. of Health Flu Hotline at 800-808-1987.