Hospital Isolation Partnering With You in Infection Prevention

Germs are everywhere. Sometimes they can make us sick. People can also pass germs along to others, making them sick. This especially is a concern in hospitals, where others are already weak and not well.

To protect all patients, we take basic steps, such as hand cleaning, to prevent the spread of germs. We follow specific guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to help reduce the chance that patients will get an infection while in the hospital.

Isolation prevents the spread of germs by limiting your exposure to other people.

We’ve added isolation to your care because you have a potentially infectious disease or have a history of multiantibiotic-resistant germs that might be found on your skin. Your nurse will talk with you about the isolation sign we’ve posted on your door.

Our staff will use extra care to prevent the spread of infection. Your health care providers:

• Will clean their hands before and after they treat you
• Might wear gowns, gloves and masks while in your room

We might ask families, caregivers and other visitors to:

• Tell us about any illness they might have been exposed to
• Wear gowns, gloves and masks while in your room
• Clean their hands before and after leaving your room
• Limit their visits or not visit at times when safety is a concern

• Clean your hands often, especially before eating and after using the toilet.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Make sure your bandages are dry and in place. If they aren’t, tell your nurse.
• Allow our housekeepers the time they need to clean your room.
• Don’t share personal items such as toys, music players, books, etc. with other patients.