Upon the heels of the H1N1 virus outbreak, Geisinger Health Plan hospitals will continue to have visitation restrictions.  Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center will keep enforcing the visitor restrictions to help prevent the spread of H1N1 and other dangerous viruses.

Dr. Lisa Esolen, Medical Director for Infection Control at Geisinger Health System says that this has been an unpredictable flu season and they are committed to protecting patients.  Children under 12 are restricted from visiting all areas and everyone else will be screened for flu-like symptoms.  The H1N1 pandemic has slowed down but seasonal flu is starting up.  Past flu viruses have shown spikes in January through March.

Many people each year are hospitalized for the flu which is just one more reason to ensure you are protected with individual health insurance.  With the new health care reform bill which recently passed in Congress, most Americans will be required to carry health insurance coverage which will help cover costs for such flu pandemics.