Posted by: thepinetree on 02/05/2014 07:56 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 02/05/2014 07:56 PM
Expires: 01/01/2019 12:00 AM
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Birth Center Taking Special Precautions to Protect Newborns from Flu
Sonora, CA...Sonora Regional Medical Center has changed its Birth Center visiting policy during the current flu epidemic. Because of the rising number of confirmed flu cases in Tuolumne County, the Birth Center has established the following rules: Laboring mothers will be allowed two banded visitors during their entire stay. This includes the patient’s significant other. Banded visitors cannot be swapped with other visitors. Visitors under the age of 12 will not be allowed. This includes siblings. There will be no open visiting hours during this flu season....
The Birth Center’s new policy is meant to protect the health and well-being of mothers and newborns. “A fever for an infant under one month of age is considered an emergency,” explains Tim Sullivan, MD, a pediatrician with Foothill Pediatrics. “Newborns can get very sick when exposed to the flu virus or other pathogens. When a newborn has a fever, it could be due to a minor viral illness or it could be due to something dangerous like Group B Strep infection.”
According to the California Department of Public Health, the number of confirmed influenza-related deaths in the state has reached 147, including four pediatric deaths. There are an additional 44 deaths under investigation but not yet confirmed due to influenza. This far exceeds the 106 total influenza-related deaths in California during the entire 2012-2013 flu season. Those at highest risk include pregnant women and infants.
The Birth Center will consider lifting the new visiting policy once the number of flu cases in the county and state begins to drop and the epidemic is declared over.
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About Sonora Regional Medical Center
Sonora Regional Medical Center is a not-for-profit 152-bed health care facility including 72 acute beds, 12 swing beds, 68 skilled nursing beds and a large network of clinics, owned and operated by Adventist Health/Roseville, California. In addition to emergency and acute care services, other Sonora Regional Medical Center services include advanced cardiac care, cancer center, diagnostic imaging, home health, hospice, intensive care, obstetrics, rural health, surgical services, wellness center, wound care and hyperbaric oxygen, and over 20 primary care, urgent care and specialty clinics. The Medical Center provided care for a total of 4,500 admissions, 528 deliveries, 22,994 emergency department visits, 288,542 outpatient visits and 37,225 home care visits in 2012. Staffed by over 165 physicians, 1,260 employees, and 175 volunteers, Sonora Regional Medical Center is the largest private employer in Tuolumne County. To find a physician in the area, contact the Physician Referral Line at (209) 536-3344.
For more information about the Medical Center visit www.sonoramedicalcenter.org.
About Adventist Health
Sonora Regional Medical Center is part of Adventist Health, a faith-based, not-for-profit integrated health care delivery system serving communities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Our workforce of 28,900 includes more than 21,200 employees; 4,500 medical staff physicians; and 3,200 volunteers. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist health values, Adventist Health provides compassionate care in 19 hospitals, more than 180 clinics (hospital-based, rural health and physician clinics), 14 home care agencies, seven hospice agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. We invite you to visit www.AdventistHealth.org for more information.
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