As the respiratory illness rates reach high levels in every part of the Carle Health coverage area, the organization is taking steps to update personal protective equipment (PPE) and visitor guidelines to reduce the spread of illness among team members and the community. Carle is urging all patients and visitors experiencing respiratory illness symptoms to wear a mask while at care facilities. Additionally, visitors to any Carle hospital must be 18 years or older, and are limited to two at a time in a patient room.
This shift will help support a safer care environment in Carle Health facilities through this most intense respiratory illness season and work to reduce the spread of infection to team members and those we serve, said Carle in a news release.
“As we have in previous years, during peak respiratory illness season Carle Health reviews our PPE and visitor guidelines to take every measure possible to limit the spread of infection,” Robert Healy, MD, Carle Health Quality, Patient Safety and Patient Experience Medical Director said. “We have an expert team of infection preventionists who continually monitor metrics for diseases like the flu, RSV, COVID-19 and others. This along with national and state Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) metrics and industry best practices help us decide when it’s time to update our guidelines.”
Studies have shown the positive impact masks and reducing exposure can offer to lessen the transmission of viral diseases. Taking these temporary measures will help all community members stay well, especially those most at risk like the young, elderly and immunocompromised.
The Illinois Department of Public Health recently issued a recommendation to state healthcare providers to take additional mitigation measures to combat the increasing rates of respiratory illness. These changes are also part of Carle Health’s ongoing focus on offering high-quality care and improving health outcomes for patients.
“Our care teams continue to encounter an increasing rate of these respiratory infections so we know first-hand that this national trend is also reflected here locally. With everything we know about how to mitigate the spread of disease, these safeguards will help keep more people in our community well,” Dr. Healy said.
Carle Health experts will continue to evaluate respiratory illness rates in the region and provide an update when levels reach a point where the temporary restrictions can be lifted.
In addition to taking steps to reduce transmission while at our facilities, we encourage all community members to remember the mitigation efforts that have been proven to slow the circulation of illness. People should stay mindful throughout the season to maintain good hand hygiene, wear a mask when symptomatic, stay home when feeling ill, and stay up to date on eligible vaccines to create a healthier community.
For more information about visitor guidelines at Carle Health facilities, visit carle.org.
