We want to let you know that at Prentice Women’s Hospital and at Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Feinberg, Galter and Olson Pavilions, we have put certain safeguards into place to protect the health of our patients during widespread flu activity. Each year in the United States, the seasonal flu affects between 5 and 25 percent of the population, and experts are predicting this year that half of the population could get the 2009 H1N1 flu.

Why We're Changing the Policy at Prentice Women's Hospital

Many of our patients at Prentice are among those at high risk for complications from the flu including pregnant women, newborns, premature infants and cancer patients treated through the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Typically, many of our visitors are 18 years old and younger, and this group has been already been hard hit by the flu this season.

To protect your health and the health of all of our patients, we have taken steps that include vaccinating our frontline healthcare workers for the seasonal and H1N1 flu and offering the vaccines to pregnant patients.

However, there is more that we can do with your help. We ask your cooperation as we put new visitation guidelines in place while the flu is widespread.

Prentice Visiting Policies Effective Immediately until Further Notice

• No visitors under 18 will be allowed in Prentice, regardless of immunization status, unless they are symptom-free parents of a hospitalized newborn.
• All adult visitors will be screened for flu-like symptoms which include a fever of 100 F plus a cough or sore throat. Those with symptoms will not be allowed to visit, will be asked to leave the hospital and encouraged to consult a doctor for follow up care.

We recognize that these restrictions may be disappointing and you may have a need to discuss them with your nurse or physician.

If you visit, please remember to clean your hands before you enter and after you leave a patient's room. Thank you for your support and understanding as we work to protect our patients and their families during this flu season.

Learn more about visitor policy changes in the oncology and hematology inpatient floors at Prentice and in the Feinberg, Galter and Olson pavilions at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.