tamatoleodnews.com – In an effort to protect patients during their stay at Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center – MMSC – is implementing new visitation guidelines.

Visitors are limited to one per patient at a time.

Only visitors that are 18 years and older.

Only visitors who do not exhibit symptoms of an influenza- like illness.

The MMSC Women’s Care Center visitation policy has also changed. At this time contact is

being limited to: Only the father or significant other.

Grandparents Siblings of the new baby, regardless of age, who are not ill, and have not been ill within two weeks of their visit.

MMSC is also continuing with its other protective measures of limiting entrance points to the hospital and screening everyone at those entrances.

“We appreciate the benefits that come from patients receiving visits from friends and loved ones, but in the context of the H1N1 pandemic, we need to protect those whose health is already compromised,” said Barb Grabenbauer, MMSC Director of Infection Control.

“Keeping our patients healthy and safe is our top priority, so our best advice is please don’t visit a patient if you are ill.”

Special consideration will be made for cases involving critically-ill patients or end-of-life situations. These visitors must comply with additional precautions.

Marshall County Public Health has administered over 1,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine to those who are truly at the highest risk of H1N1 hospitalizations and or death. Public Health is receiving small shipments each week and continue to vaccinate the high-risk groups.

This is being done through targeted communication to people in those groups and through some medical clinics in the area, such as Marshalltown OB/GYN. A weekly-recorded message, in English and Spanish, is available for Marshall County residents to receive updated vaccine

distribution information by calling 641-754-5005.

To reduce your chances of catching or spreading either the seasonal flu or H1N1, public health officials advise people to cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow and teach those around you to do the same. Wash hands frequently with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Don’t touch your hands to your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands.

And for general information and updates you can go MMSC’s website at

www.everydaychampions.org and click on the H1N1 Flu Information Center link.