Uvalde Memorial Hospital Responds to Potential of a Swine Flu Pandemic

FROM:  Jim Buckner

Administrator

Uvalde Memorial Hospital

DATE:    April 30, 2009

Swine Flu (H1N1 virus) has not yet been confirmed west of San Antonio.  Given its prevalence in Mexico,   the large number of people crossing both ways over the border who end up in our service area, and the apparently high contagiousness of this flu virus,  logic and prudence suggests we take stricter precautions to reduce the possibility of introducing this disease into our hospital.  Recommendations from the Center for Disease Control, the Texas State Department of Health Services and from the San Antonio Health Department also recommend tighter controls be put in place to protect hospital patients, visitors, and staff from exposure to the flu.

In response to the situation, the hospital has initiated measures to prevent the exposure of patients, visitors and staff to the swine flu virus in proportion to the current risk level.  Most noticeable to the public is the screening being done at the entrances and the number of entrances available to the public being restricted.  In the emergency department staff are wearing masks and the environmental precautions for exposure control have been upgraded.  Patients who have a cough may be issued a mask as a precaution against exposure to staff and other patients in the public areas.  Additional restrictions regarding visitation may be implemented as necessary. The hospital is very concerned about patient safety and asks the public to be patient as normal visitor policies may be modified during this potential threat to health.

There has been an increase in visits to the emergency department and the hospital has increased staffing to accommodate the additional flow.  Many patients seem worried that their symptoms could be swine flu but UMH or Uvalde County has yet to have a confirmed case of the disease.  Jacqueline Gillette, RN, Infection Control Director for the hospital, strongly recommends that hand hygiene and limiting social contact, such as shaking hands, are excellent ways to reduce the risk for infection of the flu.  For more information about swine flu and how to prevent infection, you can continue to visit our hospital website, www.umhtx.org.  The hospital's status regarding the swine flu will be updated here daily until the threat is passed.

For media reference:

Governor Perry Issues Disaster Proclamation for Swine Influenza

April 29, 2009

I, RICK PERRY, Governor of Texas, do hereby certify that as a consequence of confirmed cases of Swine Influenza A (swH1N1) in certain parts of Texas, a public health emergency exists throughout the entire State of Texas involving Swine Influenza A that threatens or has significant potential to threaten the health, safety and security of the citizens of Texas.

THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby declare a state of disaster based on the existence of such threat, and direct that all necessary measures both public and private as authorized under Section 418.017 of the code be implemented to meet that threat.

As provided in Section 418.016 of the code, all rules and regulations that may inhibit or prevent prompt response to this threat are suspended for the duration of the threat.

In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my Office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 29th day of April, 2009.

RICK PERRY
Governor