H1N1 ("Swine") and Fletcher Allen

WHERE TO FIND INFORMATION ON H1N1 (“SWINE”) FLU

If you have symptoms that you think might be flu-related, dial 211 for guidance on whether your symptoms require a call to your primary care provider.  Vermont 211 operators are working closely with the Vermont Department of Health and Vermont Emergency Management to provide accurate information to the public on the H1N1 outbreak. Visit http://www.vermont211.org/ to learn more.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers comprehensive information on its website www.flu.gov/ including answers to frequently asked questions about the swine flu vaccine. 

FLETCHER ALLEN AND THE FLU

Below, please find information that specifically relates to how Fletcher Allen Health Care is responding to the H1N1 pandemic. 

What should I expect when visiting Fletcher Allen facilities?

Visitors to the medical center campus in Burlington or any of our patient care locations throughout Vermont will be asked to wear a surgical mask if they have a fever, a cough or think they might have the flu. You will see signs at reception desks and in other locations requesting that you frequently clean your hands with sanitizer that is provided for free. 

Please note: It is best to avoid coming to a health care facility if you have any of these symptoms or if you think you have the flu, unless you are seeking treatment.

Are there restrictions on visiting patients at Fletcher Allen?
Fletcher Allen will make necessary changes to its existing visitation policy as needed.  To review the existing policy, please click here.

Can I get my flu vaccinations at the hospital?

Fletcher Allen is not conducting vaccination clinics for the general public at the medical center campus.  Visitors to the hospital and members of the public should dial 211 for information on public vaccination clinics.   

What have you done to prepare for a mass outbreak of the swine flu?

Since the appearance last spring of H1N1 influenza we have evaluated long-standing plans for effectively responding to a pandemic, and have adjusted them as we have learned more about the nature of H1N1 and its potential for spreading.

Senior administrators and medical staff from throughout our organization have been meeting constantly for months to stay on top of this rapidly developing public health threat.  Comprehensive plans are in place for staffing, bed capacity, supplies, lab testing and many other aspects of the care we will provide to our patients. These plans have been heavily influenced by guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and have been developed in consultation with the Vermont Department of Health.

We have also taken steps to prevent the infection from spreading in our facilities. In addition to the new visitation policies described above, we are requiring staff and visitors to wear masks and other protective gear when in contact with influenza patients, whether they have seasonal or H1N1 flu.  In addition, Fletcher Allen employees have received training in the extra precautions that need to be taken when interacting with patients infected with influenza.

Have your doctors and nurses been immunized against seasonal and H1N1 flu?
Fletcher Allen staff members in critical areas like the Emergency Department and intensive care units have already been vaccinated for seasonal and swine flu, and plans are in place to eventually immunize all clinical and non-clinical employees against both viruses. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that health care workers be among the first to receive vaccinations because it helps control the spread of the flu, and keeps doctors and nurses on the job serving the public at this critical time.