The Winchester District Memorial Hospital has an active program for the prevention and control of infections.  There are some key points you should know:

Hand Washing:

Hand washing is the single most effective procedure you can do to prevent the spread of infection.  All persons in the hospital, including all staff, patients, physicians, and visitors must practice routine hand washing.  For your convenience, throughout the hospital, waterless antiseptic hand wash stations are available.  Visitors should wash their hands on entrance and exit of the hospital.

Infection Precautions:

When patients have a specific organism / disease that can spread to other patients, certain precautions are necessary, which may include a private room where everyone who enters may be required to put on protective equipment such as mask, gloves, gowns.  It is important to both the patient and the visitor that you follow the directives of the nurse to prevent spread of a contagious disease.

Everyone must wash his or her hands prior to entering a patient’s room and on exiting the patient’s room.  A stop sign and pictorial signage will be placed at the entrance of the room to alert staff, physicians and visitors.  The sign will indicate the specific infection precautions that must be taken.  Your nurse will provide you with information to help you understand the infection precautions and monitoring program.