Oct. 20, 2009

CONTACT:
Communications Department
(320) 251-2700, ext. 74980

St. Cloud Hospital encourages visitors to stay home

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – During this challenging flu season, St. Cloud Hospital is discouraging any visitors to hospitalized patients, particularly visitors who may be experiencing or recovering from flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough and sore throat.

“Many times, caring family and friends come to the hospital with well-meaning intentions, but leave behind germs that can spread to our patients who are already medically vulnerable,” said Sally Petrowski, RN, Infection Control specialist at St. Cloud Hospital. “People actually can be contagious the day before they begin to experience any flu-like symptoms and may come to the hospital not realizing they are sharing these germs with their loved ones in the hospital.”

St. Cloud Hospital encourages family and friends of patients to share their well-wishes by phone or by sending a patient e-greeting.

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