St. Joseph Medical Center Lifts Age-Restricted Visitor Policy

Implemented in response to fall H1N1 outbreak
Seasonal RSV restriction still in place on Pediatrics Units

Due to a significant decrease in H1N1 flu activity in Maryland, St. Joseph Medical Center is lifting temporary visitor restrictions that went into place on October 23, 2009. Beginning January 12, 2010, visitors under age 18 who do not have cold/flu symptoms can once again visit patients in the hospital. This also means that new and expectant mothers on the Maternity Unit can receive their own children as visitors.

St. Joseph’s temporary visiting policy went into effect as a precaution to limit the spread of last year’s nationwide outbreak of H1N1 flu. Anyone of any age with flu-like symptoms is still not allowed to visit in any areas of the hospital.
 
There is one seasonal exception to the lifted visitation restriction policy: children ages 12 and under are still not allowed to visit St. Joseph’s Pediatrics Unit or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which always observe a seasonal RSV policy restriction. RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a very contagious, winter-time illness that has mild cold-like symptoms in older children but can lead to serious respiratory illness in babies and younger children. 

"If there is another wave of H1N1 flu activity or seasonal influenza activity, the visiting restrictions for those under age 18 may be put back into place," explains Dr. Richard Boehler, chief medical officer at St. Joseph Medical Center.