Hospitals taking precautions for H1N1

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The Centers for Disease Control said children are at high risk for getting H1N1 and at risk of getting the worst complications from it.

Many parents may be inclined to rush their sick children to the closest pediatric hospital. But, is that a good idea?

Indianapolis has two large, competing children's hospitals; Riley and Peyton Manning at St. Vincent. They say they've put competition aside to collaborate with the Marion County Health Department on the best methods to help patients, those who have H1N1, those who don't, and their own employees.

When patients enter the St. Vincent Pediatric Emergency Room the first thing they’ll see is a kiosk with adult and children sized masks, plus information about H1N1.

Patients will also hear a recording asking them to take precautions before going to the triage desk.

"If you, your child or anyone with you have a fever and a cough or sore throat, please put a surgical mask on."

Your next stop will be the triage desk with its newly installed splash guard.

Phillip Lewis is an EMT technician who sits behind the splash guard.

"Well, I think it’s a good mechanism that protect the staff from whatever might be coming in and protect us from them and them from us."

The triage team determines if incoming patients need to be isolated said Robert Lubitz the vice president at St. Vincent and medical doctor. He is in charge of hospital emergency preparedness.

"So our waiting rooms are laid out in pods so that we can keep the more well-sick kids from the sick-sick kids."

Dr. Lubitz said his staff is ready for H1N1. Nurses on staff must wear gowns, gloves, and special masks.

And patients with flu-like symptoms are put in special treatment rooms.

"And an isolation room uses negative airflow where the air is drawn into the room then exhausted out of the building so it doesn't get recirculated through the door into the hallway," said Dr. Lubitz.

Both Riley and Peyton Manning at St. Vincent hopes parents will call their primary care doctors first before rushing kids to the ER. That is unless of course a child has a raging fever or difficulty breathing.

Doctors stress that most of the mild cases should be treated at home with rest, fluids and fever reducing medication, but not aspirin for children under 18.