hospitals implement visitor restrictions to limit spread of respiratory infections

Dayton area hospitals, including Dayton Children's, will implement visitation restrictions on December 20, 2023 in an effort to minimize the spread of respiratory infections to hospital patients and employees.

Due to an increase in patients with respiratory symptoms, as well as the local presence of respiratory and flu viruses, the region’s hospitals have opted to implement precautionary measures in order to protect hospital patients and employees.

visitor restrictions

Dayton Children's, along with the other GDAHA hospitals will implement the following visitation restrictions on December 20, 2023 as precautionary measures:

• No visitation by anyone who is ill with any respiratory symptoms including coughing or fever, etc.
• No visitation by anyone under age 14

Learn more about visiting patients at Dayton Children's.

Hospitals may institute more restrictive visitation policies if they serve specific patient populations such as pediatric, burn, transplant or ICU patients.

Hospitals will implement visitation restrictions with the utmost sensitivity and respect to patients and their families. Hospital employees will work with patients on a case-by-case basis to ensure that patients receive the support needed to assist them throughout the continuum of care.

“The action of restricting visitors exhibiting respiratory symptoms, including a fever or cough, and children under the age of fourteen is an important precautionary measure,” said Sarah Hackenbracht, President & CEO of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association. “Hospitals want to ensure they can keep patients and employees safe from respiratory infections, including the seasonal flu virus, in order to provide the highest quality of healthcare available in the region,” she said.

To keep from spreading respiratory infections to others, GDAHA member hospitals recommend careful hand-washing, coughing and sneezing into a sleeve or a tissue, and staying home from work or school for at least 24 hours after an individual is fever free.

The Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association (GDAHA) is a member-service organization representing 29 hospitals and health systems in the Dayton region. GDAHA collaborates with its members to improve the delivery of healthcare services in Auglaize, Butler, Darke, Champaign, Clark, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby, and Warren Counties in West Central Ohio.