Kootenai Health limits visitors

Kootenai Health, along with many regional hospitals, is currently seeing a high volume of patients. That, in conjunction with the current flu season, caused clinical leadership to implement visitor restrictions at the hospital today.

"We know that limiting the number of visitors that come to the hospital helps reduce patient exposure to the flu," said Walt Fairfax, chief medical officer at Kootenai Health. "Although our high number of patients cannot be exclusively attributed to the flu, it does seem to be a contributing factor, so we want to take every reasonable precaution."

Visitor restrictions will apply to those who are not a patient's immediate family, anyone under the age of 18, and those with a cold, fever, sore throat, or signs of a flu-like illness.

Kootenai is also encouraging everyone in the community to get the flu vaccine if they have not already done so.

"The flu typically comes in waves, so receiving the vaccination now can still help prevent getting the flu this season," said Dr. Fairfax.

Patients are encouraged to seek care from their primary care physician or urgent care facility unless they are severely ill.