Preventing Infection

At Saints Medical Center, we take all precautions necessary to protect patients, employees and visitors from the spread of infection and communicable diseases. Our employees may wear gloves, gowns and masks when treating you or other patients. This is for your protection as well as their own. Special care is taken to dispose of linens, waste materials and needles.

Fortunately, many infections can be avoided simply by following proper hand washing techniques. Both care providers and visitors should wash their hands before and after visiting you. Below are tips to help avoid infection while in the hospital:

• Ensure that everyone who visits you has washed their hands immediately before entering the room.
• Should your condition require additional protection, protective gloves and gowns are available for visitors and staff to help maintain a safe environment.
• Restrict visitors who are not feeling well. A guest with a simple cold, cough or rash can easily spread infections to you and other patients.
• Individuals with recent exposure to infectious diseases such as chicken pox or other communicable diseases may not be allowed to visit. When appropriate, hospital staff may ask visitors about potential exposures prior to entering your room.
• Should you condition require isolation, a sign may be placed near your door reminding others to use extra precautions. This is done to protect you from potential infection. Your nurse will explain the necessary procedures to you and your family if you require isolation.