CHC eases visitation policy due to decrease in H1N1 numbers
Bend, Ore. - Cascade Healthcare Community announced today that the organization will ease visitor restrictions put in place initially to slow the spread of the seasonal and H1N1 viruses in the three CHC hospitals. Over the past several weeks, CHC restricted visitors to the hospital. The restriction primarily affected visitors aged 12 and under and larger groups of family members and friends wishing to visit inpatients.
Although CHC will ease these restrictions, the organization asks that visitors to any CHC facility be in good health and that the community self-limit visits by children aged 12 and under for the protection of patients and caregivers. The sanitation stations located at all entrances of the organization will remain in place and all visitors and caregivers are encouraged to use them when they enter. Masks are also available for those experiencing respiratory symptoms, who are seeking care.
Since early October, CHC has been tracking Emergency Department visits due to influenza-like illness as well as absentee rates among caregivers due to influenza-like illness and absentee rates in area schools. Last week the organization saw the rates approach normal levels for this time of year.
Dr. Alan Ertle, CHC's senior vice president of medical affairs, headed the group tracking numbers and setting interim policies to slow the spread of the virus.
"Our peak impact date was October 22. At that time, we had a large number of patients in the hospital and a doubling of our employee absenteeism. The region also saw school absenteeism of up to 30 percent," Ertle said. "During that time up to 50 percent of our Emergency Department visits were related to influenza-like illness." According to Ertle, those numbers dropped off in the last two weeks.
Ertle says CHC will remain diligent in organization-wide efforts to slow the spread of both seasonal and H1N1 flu, and departments in the organization will continue to track H1N1 numbers in the region.
"The region will continue to have H1N1 at a lower level," Ertle said. "We also expect the seasonal flu to peak is in January and February. When the third phase of the H1N1 pandemic will hit is not clear, but it is likely to be next spring. Many more folks will be immunized by that time so the impact should be less than what we had October and November."
CHC established a flu information line that community residents can call at 541-706-7711 or individuals can visit www.cascadehealthcare.org/h1n1 for more information. The state of Oregon has established a flu hotline at 1-800-978-3040. The state line is manned 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
About Cascade Healthcare Community
Cascade Healthcare Community, Inc.(CHC), headquartered in Bend, Oregon, owns and operates the St. Charles medical centers in Bend and Redmond, leases and operates Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Prineville and provides management services for Mountain View Hospital in Madras. CHC is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 3,000 caregivers in Bend, Redmond and Prineville. In addition, there are more than 350 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with CHC to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.
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