Has H1N1 had any impact on your maternity units?

[bmcm2girls]

I am really curious to hear what other hospitals are doing when faced with swine flu. A few months back we had an outbreak of swine flu that was pretty rampant but quickly contained. It involved staff more then patients so it was easy to contain by having them stay home for a week. It ran its course quickly and was done. In the early stages, our NICU changed its visitation policies to only allow parents/grandparents and no children at all in an attempt to hold off any NICU cases. Things were going smoothly until recently. There have been several pt's who developed symptoms after delivery which resulted in the NICU being compromised and throwing a fit (rightfully so). We have also had several support people to the patients who appeared fine and told us later that they were sick (after exposing a LOT of people) that ended up having swine flu. This all resulted in the NICU demanding stricter visiting policies (we basically have an all open door policy). Here is the gist of what they have done:

Everyone entering the maternity center is screened at the front desk and given a sticker saying they answered our questions (although we all know they really COULD be lying) and don't have anything concerning to us. If they are a patient, who have any symptoms, they are, of course, put on contact precautions. If they are a visitor, they are turned away. If they are a "support person" (which is classified as the person who will be wearing the second baby band, could be FOB or any other person the mom wants) they are allowed to still come in but are instructed to wear a mask and asked to remain in the patients room while they are visiting. I have my own concerns about this (which I get slack if I share, lol) so I am curious what you all think/do in your hospitals?

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Our NICU only allows parents and grandparents right now, no exceptions. If it's a baby that comfort care only, they will try to move them out of the NICU and into a mother/baby room that is close by.

We do try to screen our visitors, and our employees are not allowed to come to work if they have any sx. We have so far been very fortunate (knock on wood).

[bmcm2girls]

So, if a visitor or support person shows up with s/s, would they be allowed in to the unit? Would it matter if it is the fob or not?

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

If it's FOB/support person with the bracelet, then yes. Not ideal but since the bracelets aren't transferable, it's kind of a catch-22. We encourage masks but don't/can't force them on anyone.