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Some Western Montana hospitals have placed restrictions on visitors that are at high risk of spreading the H1N1 Flu virus.

St. Patrick Hospital, and Community Medical Center in Missoula, along with St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson and the Western Montana Clinic have all put restrictions into effect.

The facilities are requesting that pregnant women, children, college students, anyone with chronic medical conditions and people over the age of 65 refrain from visiting patients. However, exceptions for certain situations will be considered.

In addition, family and visitors with a fever, soar throat, cough or nausea are asked not to visit patients in the hospital.

St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center has also now restricted visitation by children aged 14 and under in patient care areas.

Children seeking medical care are still permitted on premises and will be asked to wear a mask if exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

Meanwhile, a press release from St. Pat's asks that "Families with special situations, such as a gravely ill family member, may contact the nursing supervisor to arrange for special visitation".

Below is the press released detailing the restrictions put into effect on Friday, October 23rd

St. Pat's and St. Joe's Restrict Visitors Aged 14 and Under

Effective immediately, visitors aged 14 and under are restricted from patient care areas of St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center. This includes the 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th floors of the main hospital. On the 2^nd floor this includes the Main Lobby, Emergency Department, Day Surgery, St. Pat's X-ray/Imaging Department and Endoscopy. The Broadway Building and Level 1, including the cafeteria, are not included in this restriction.

Hospital owned and operated physician clinics are still the first place to go for patients experiencing flu-like symptoms, not the hospital Emergency Departments. We will provide masks for children to wear for preventive reasons while at the clinics.

Effective immediately pediatric visitors aged 14 and under are restricted from St. Joseph Medical Center, Western Montana Medical Clinic and St. Joseph Orthopedic Clinic. Children seeking medical care are still permitted on the premises and will be asked to wear a mask if exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

This age group has the highest incidence of H1N1 influenza and is the most vulnerable to H1N1. Allowing this age group to visit in hospital patient care areas presents a potentially critical risk to patients. Since children appear to be more susceptible to this strain of H1N1, visiting in the hospital also significantly increases the child's own risk for contracting flu. Exceptions for special situations (for example, visitation of the gravely ill patient) are asked to contact the patient care supervisor.

Family and visitors with a fever, sore throat, cough or nausea are asked not to visit patients in the hospital. All visitors of influenza patients must follow posted precaution guidelines for hand hygiene and other protective measures. These measures will help reduce potential spread of influenza virus to patients, health care workers and other visitors.

St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center and Community Medical Center in Missoula have established separate guidelines for pediatric restrictions because of the patient populations they serve. Please note the different ages for restrictions and different restrictions within the hospitals.