Yellow Pages
Hospitals don’t often discourage people from coming in the doors, but the spread of H1N1 flu has led health officials to change the way they operate.
Skagit Valley Hospital has closed all but three of its doors. The open entrances are staffed by volunteers checking the health and age of everyone coming through.
On Thursday, volunteer Bonnie Lamont checked to see if anyone entering the campus had a fever, cough or sore throat. Healthy people were given a green sticker and allowed in. Those who were sick but still needed to enter the hospital received a mask. People under 18 were asked to stay away if possible.
The screenings were the hospital’s latest effort to limit access to vulnerable patients.
Every hospital in the county is requesting that youths stay away if possible.
Island Hospital is asking people under 18 to avoid the hospital, but leaving it to the discretion of patients and visitors. United General Hospital is asking that anyone under 12 stay away from patients.
But people who are sick may be the hospitals’ biggest problem. Those who are sick may still get sent into emergency rooms, but most don’t need to come in at all.
Until the swine flu scare is over, Infection Preventionist Beth Melius said Skagit Valley Hospital will be asking everyone at the door about their health before they walk in.
* Aaron Burkhalter can be reached at 360-416-2141 or .
