Banner Health implements visitor restrictions

PHOENIX – In response to increasing rates of influenza and other seasonal illnesses across the nation, Banner Health will implement visitor restrictions at all of its hospitals, including it’s Fallon facility.

Effective Dec. 28, the following restrictions will be implemented:

• Do not visit the hospital if you have fever, cough, vomiting or diarrhea.
• No visitors under the age of 13.
• At facilities other than Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, siblings who do not have cold and flu symptoms may visit a new baby in the Obstetrics Unit. Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix is restricting all visitors under age 13.
• Children 12 and under must be supervised by an adult at all times in public waiting areas and cafeterias.
• Please wash or sanitize your hands frequently while at the hospital.

All Banner Health employees, employed physicians, volunteers and students received a flu vaccination by Dec. 1. Those who were unable to receive the vaccination because of medical or religious reasons are required to wear a mask while in care settings (such as hospitals) during the flu season.

Banner Health encourages everyone over the age of 6 months to receive the flu vaccine to protect themselves and others from influenza. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for protection to set in, making now the perfect time to get vaccinated.

Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns and operates 29 acute-care hospitals, Banner Health Network, Banner – University Medicine, Banner Medical Group, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services, including family clinics, home care and hospice services, pharmacies and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in seven states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming.