Germs and bacteria exist at home, at work, and in hospitals. All hospitals work hard to prevent you from getting an infection while you are in the hospital. The spread of germs is a possibility in any hospital, and is believed to cause thousands of infections every year.

• If you have a cold, respiratory symptoms, or other contagious illnesses, we ask you to consider not visiting anyone in the hospital, for the health and safety of our patients.
• Be particularly aware that visitors under age 12 frequently have colds or other infections, and perhaps should not visit patient care areas.
• Handwashing can prevent the spread of germs. You may wash your hands in the rest rooms with comfortably hot water and soap. Or you may use the antibacterial hand wash dispensers conveniently located throughout the hospital in patient care areas.