With influenza circulating in the community and primarily affecting young people, Navicent Health has set up a first line of defense. Navicent Health has implemented a youth visitation policy for the protection of patients, visitors and staff.
 
Effective Monday, December 10, 2018, children must be age 12 or older in order to visit The Medical Center, Navicent Health; Medical Center of Peach County, Navicent Health; Navicent Health Baldwin; Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Navicenet Health; and Rehabilitation Hospital, Navicent Health.
 
"The health of our patients and the community is the highest concern at Navicent Health. Our policies and actions are designed to protect those at greatest risk during the flu season,” said Tom Oliver, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Navicent Health Enterprise Clinical Systems.
 
Administrators at Navicent Health based the decision to restrict visitation on information from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the prevalence of influenza in the region at this time.
 
Individuals with flu-like symptoms and those who have recently had the flu are encouraged to remain at home and stay away from public areas, including school, work, theaters or other areas where people are in close proximity.
 
Anyone with symptoms of a cold, or others with immunocompromised health status, are encouraged not to visit the hospital for their own protection as well as that of seriously ill patients.
 
“We appreciate the community’s understanding and cooperation with these efforts to minimize exposure during this active flu season,” said Dr. Oliver.