Patient Identification Bands

For your child’s protection, please make sure his or her ID band is worn at all times. In the NICU, the ID band may be attached to your child’s bed or crib to permit IV access.

Handwashing

Good handwashing is one of the simplest, yet most effective steps you and your child’s visitors can take to protect your child and other patients from infection. Always wash your hands with soap and water when you first arrive on the unit, anytime your hands are soiled, and after using the restroom. Sinks are located in each patient room and at the entrances to intensive care units. At other times, you may use the waterless hand rub found in pump dispensers in your child’s room.

Infection Control

UI Hospitals and Clinics is committed to strict infection control. Throughout the hospital, you will see caregivers using a waterless hand rub called Avagard™D that is part of an overall hand hygiene program to promote the health and safety of patients and health care providers. Avagard™D is an alcohol–based product that is used instead of soap and water to kill bacteria and other germs that may be on health care providers’ hands.

Visitor Health Screening

To protect our patients, all visitors must be free of contagious diseases such as the flu or common cold. During cold season (November – March), all visitors will be screened for signs of illness.

Children under the age of 14 may be screened at other times as well. In intensive care units, additional screening may take place.

Family and friends who are sick may not visit the unit until they are healthy. Anyone who is ill with cough, fever, cold sores, loose stools, etc., may not visit your child. No one should visit if recently exposed to chicken pox, measles, mumps, pertussis (whooping cough), or rubella.