PARIS, TN – Today, HCMC announced a need for friends and family to limit their visitation of patients due to the increased number of cases of flu in the community and within the hospital. HCMC is also asking that family and friends, especially those under 14 years of age, do not visit the hospital, especially the HCMC Women’s Center and Critical Care Unit.

In the past 72 hours, HCMC has seen an influx of patients in the ER testing positive with Flu A & B. The State of Tennessee is still being reported as High Activity. Influenza-like Illness (ILI) is approximately 6.8% of cases compared to the national average of 2.4%. The Influenza B strain has been the most predominant this year at 56%.

Additionally, hand sanitation stations have been set up throughout the facility with sanitizer gel and masks. We encourage all visitors who meet the criteria below to follow the visitation guidelines:

Immediate family only will be allowed on the nursing units.
No one that has been recently sick or exposed to the flu will be allowed on the units.
No one, immediate family included, who is experiencing these signs and symptoms will be allowed on the units:

Fever Cough Sore Throat

Body Aches Headaches Chills

Fatigue Diarrhea Nausea/Vomiting

No one under 14 years old will be permitted on the units unless a brother or sister of your new baby AND the child has not been sick, not experiencing any of the signs & symptoms listed above.

“This is a very busy influenza time and we are being very cautious particularly of our youngest, eldest, and sickest patients to ensure that their safety is priority. We appreciate the community adhering to these guidelines for the safety of our patients as well as our visitors,” said Jacki O’Brien, Director of Infection Control at HCMC. “With the continued increase in prevalence of flu and stomach bug, we want to make sure that our patients get well, and mitigating risk is the most important thing we can do for our patients.”

For more information, go to our website at www.hcmc-tn.org or check out our social media pages for updates.

Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: http://www.hcmc-tn.org.