To help prevent the spread of the influenza virus, Agnesian HealthCare – including Ripon Medical Center, St. Agnes Hospital, St. Francis Home and Waupun Memorial Hospital – is temporarily raising the minimum age of visitors to hospital and nursing home patients to 15. Families are also encouraged to limit all visitors to members of the immediate family who are not ill during this flu season, and the community is being asked to stay home if sick except to get medical care. The visitor guidelines will remain in effect until the flu peak passes. Instead, individuals are encouraged to contact hospitalized patients by phone or other communication methods, including text messaging, e-mails and social media outlets According to the Centers for Disease Control, flu activity is on the rise in the United States with all 50 states reporting sporadic to widespread illness. Agnesian HealthCare has seen an increase in the number of people presenting with influenza-like illness since mid-December 2014.
