News & Announcements 

St. Anthony Memorial Hospital visitor policy for this flu season
In order to protect yourself and the patients DO NOT VISIT PATIENTS IF YOU:
Have a cold or any flu-like symptoms
Are under 18 years of age
Are a pregnant woman 
A limit of only 2 people should visit a patient at any one time.

H1N1 Influenza Update

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has joined with the CDC and the Public Health Department to urge pregnant women to take steps to prevent influenza and to seek early treatment.  Unlike seasonal flu, the infected people experiencing the highest risk of complications are those women who are pregnant (particularly those in their 3rd trimester) and infants.  It is even possible to experience both seasonal influenza and H1N1 influenza simultaneously or in tandem with serious results.

Based on this information and the recommendations of these groups, your providers here at Effingham OBGYN strongly encourage our pregnant patients to get both the immunization for seasonal influenza and H1N1 influenza.

What Can You Do?

If you are pregnant and have symptoms of typical acute respiratory influenza-like illness such as a fever of 100F or greater, a cough, runny nose, and a sore in the absence of a KNOWN cause, notify your provider immediately. Other symptoms can include body aches, headache, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea. Report close exposure to someone (family member or co-worker) with influenza immediately.

Other ways to reduce risk for pregnant women

Frequent hand washing.
Cover cough
Avoid contact with sick individuals.
If a family member has flu-like symptoms, try to arrange for another person to care for those who are sick.
Avoid, whenever possible, crowded community settings.
Stay home if you are ill, except to seek medical care

The vaccines for seasonal influenza and H1N1 will not be available at our office. Please
contact your area Health Department to find out the availability of both the seasonal and H1N1 immunizations. We will post notices in our waiting room and on our website effinghamobgyn.com regarding H1N1 updates.