Tips on being a good visitor

Visitors to St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese, and any healthcare facility, play an important role in guarding patient safety. The hospital and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) offer a few tips on how to be a good visitor.

Sanitize hands before and after visiting

The soap and hand sanitizers are for everyone so wash or sanitize your hands when entering and/or leaving a patient's room. Clean your hands after sneezing, coughing, touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, and before and after eating, drinking or using the restroom. Cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve, do not sit on patient beds or handle equipment and follow any instructions posted outside the patient's room.

Stay home if you are sick

Do not visit a hospital patient if you are sick or have had symptoms within the last three days including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever (or feeling feverish), uncontrolled cough or rash.

Check before bringing children or food, sending flowers

Depending on circumstances, flowers or plants, youngsters and goodies may not be allowed, so check first. Many hospitals prohibit flowers or plants in the ICU. If you change the water in a vase of flowers, be sure to wash your hands afterward. Bringing food is risky because the patient may be on a special diet or the food could spoil. If bringing youngsters, make sure the child is free from symptoms of infection (runny nose, sore throat, rash, cough, etc.), don't let them play on the floor or bed and have them wash their hands as they enter and leave the room.

Special precautions

If the patient is on "Isolation Precautions," talk to the nurse before entering the room to find out what precautions are needed such as a mask or other protective clothing.

Don't contribute to the clutter

Less clutter eases the critical job of cleaning hospital rooms. Keep patient items off the floor and away from waste containers.

Visiting more than one patient

If you are visiting more than one patient, sanitize your hands before and after each and visit the person in isolation last, following the appropriate precautions.

Back home

Follow discharge instructions and eliminate germs from the patient's environment by using disinfectants, such as sprays and wipes, to clean hard surfaces often. Ask for special instructions if the patient had a drug-resistant infection such as MRSA or C. difficile.

For more information, contact Karen Richter in Infection Prevention at 618.526-5622 or email Karyn Richter or visit www.preventinfection.org.