UK HealthCare Issues Temporary Policy Changes To Combat Flu

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Temporary changes to UK HealthCare’s visitation policy will mean tighter restrictions for visitors to a number of facilities.

Enlarge image

Reacting to a rise in the number of influenza cases in Kentucky, officials at UK HealthCare announced Monday that visitors to inpatient units including the UK Chandler Hospital, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, and UK Good Samaritan will have to submit to new rules.

"Some of the measures we are taking to restrict visitation... keep children under the age of 18 from visiting at this point. We understand how important visitation is, but we also want to make sure that we are not introducing other infectious processes to the patient as well and to our healthcare workers. We are also asking that only two visitors visit at a time," UK HealthCare interim director for infection prevention Kim Blanton say.

Visitors may also be issued masks or other protective clothing and even tighter restrictions may apply for special care units such as critical care and oncology.