Wichita Ascension Via Christi hospitals are temporarily restricting visitors. Here’s why
Ascension Via Christi Hospitals in Wichita are restricting visitors in order to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses.
“Patients’ families and friends are asked not to make in-person visits to the hospital if they have had COVID-19 in the past 10 days or are experiencing cold- or flu-like symptoms such as cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose, nasal congestion or sore throat,” the hospital said in a news release on Thursday.
The restriction applies to the four in-patient hospitals in Wichita, Ascension Marketing Communications manager Roz Hutchinson said.
Those are St. Francis north of downtown Wichita, St. Joseph in southeast Wichita, St. Teresa in northwest Wichita and the rehabilitation hospital in northeast Wichita, according to Hutchinson.
The hospital said those with extenuating circumstances can talk to their nurse and healthcare team to “determine appropriate visitation that is safe for everyone.”
Visitors must be at least 12 years old to enter an Ascension facility except the NewLife Center at the St. Joseph Hospital location, where the minimum age to visit is 18.
Visitors are also reminded to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer when entering and exiting a patient’s room.
“While family plays a key role in the healing process and the importance of the presence of loved ones during family milestones, patient and staff safety continues to be our top priority,” Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sheryl Beard said in a news release. “As a reminder, families also have the option of seeing and communicating with patients virtually, which also helps prevent the transmission of any potential illnesses.”
Wesley Medical Center said in an email that it does not plan to change its visitation policy.
“We continue to ask all visitors to mask if they are suffering any symptoms of Covid-19 (or have had COVID-19 in the past 10 days),” Wesley Director of Marketing and PR Dave Stewart said. “Or are suffering from any respiratory symptoms associated with a cold, flu or other illness.”
Stewart added: “We have signage making this clear at the entrances to all Wesley Healthcare facilities, and that signage has been in place since the end of the pandemic.”
As the peak season for respiratory illness nears, the Center For Disease Control and Prevention says respiratory illness is rapidly increasing across the U.S.
“Millions of people may get sick in the next month or two, and low vaccination rates means more people will get more severe disease,” the CDC said. “Getting vaccinated now can help prevent hospitalizations and save lives.”
The CDC estimates that there have been 7 to 14 million flu illnesses, 3 to 6.5 million flu medical visits, 73,000 to 150,000 flu hospitalizations and 4,500 to 13,000 flu-related deaths between Oct. 1 through Dec. 23, 2023 in the U.S., according to a report from the organization.
This story was originally published January 4, 2024 at 1:05 PM.