FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 17, 2009

NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Geoffrey Roche
Coordinator, Community and Government Relations
Phone (570) 476-3767
Fax (570) 420-2537
Email: groche@pmchealthsystem.org

NEWS RELEASE
PMC Lifts Visitor Restrictions
 

Due to reported decreases in influenza cases, Pocono Medical Center (PMC) has lifted its temporary visitor restrictions policy, which was established in response to the region’s surge in influenza-like illnesses last October.  Healthy individuals, including those under the age of 18, may now visit patients in the hospital.  However, PMC strongly encourages anyone with flu-like symptoms to refrain from visiting patients.
 
In addition, restrictions placed yearly on visitors to the mother/baby and pediatric units still remain in effect due to RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) season.  This policy restricts children under the age of two from visiting the mother/baby and pediatric units at PMC from November through April.  Dr. Susheer Gandotra, Director of Infectious Diseases at PMC, explains that while the visitor restriction policy has been lifted, it is still important for all visitors to take steps to protect themselves.  “I would strongly encourage anyone in our community who falls into one of the high-risk groups to get the H1N1 vaccine and everyone to get a seasonal flu shot as medically appropriate,” he states.

Although the visitation policy has been lifted, we would like to remind everyone to take the following steps to protect themselves against influenza:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
• If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
• If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms and have to go out in public, please consider wearing a facemask to protect others.
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 30 seconds.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Visitors entering PMC can still expect to see boxes of facemasks and hand sanitizer, which are for public use.  For further information, PMC encourages you to visit www.h1n1inpa.com or www.flu.gov. 

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