Influenza (flu)

Hospital Visitation Changes

At Mayo Clinic we strive to provide the best and safest care for all of our patients. An important part of providing this quality care is protecting our patients from infections — including those which may be passed by members of the health care team or the patient's family.

In response to the pandemic H1N1 influenza outbreak in the community, Mayo Clinic is implementing temporary changes to its visitation policy for Saint Marys Hospital and Rochester Methodist Hospital effective Wednesday, Nov. 4. The new visitation policy includes:

• No more than two visitors at a time.
• No visitors who are coughing, sneezing, have a runny nose, fever, or a sore throat.
• No visitors under the age of 18.
• Visitors must follow the hospital unit's visiting hours.
• Only parents or primary caregivers may visit pediatric patients.

Under extreme circumstances, exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis by hospital staff. All visitors must clean their hands before and after visiting with hand sanitizer (available throughout Saint Marys and Rochester Methodist hospitals) or soap and water. Please address any questions with the unit secretary or a member of the nursing staff.