MENDOTA - To protect patients, family members, and staff from the spread of infectious conditions, OSF HealthCare Saint Paul Medical Center in Mendota and Saint Elizabeth in Ottawa are postponing all volunteer services and asking the public to limit visits as a precautionary measure.

Effective immediately, the following patient and visitor restrictions are in effect:

• We recommend only one guest accompany patients going to an OSF HealthCare facility for services.
• Visitors should be at least 18 years of age and older. This will minimize exposure of patients to children, who are known to be high risk for transmission of viral infections and will protect children from contracting an illness while visiting the hospital.
• Please do not visit hospitalized patients if you are not feeling well, particularly if you have had flu-like symptoms during the past seven days. Symptoms include a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, cough, and/or sore throat.
• To limit exposure, we recommend each hospitalized patient designate one visitor during their stay. End of life situations will receive special accommodations.

In addition, the OSF Saint Elizabeth Care-A-Van patient transportation service in Ottawa has been suspended during this time. Transportation services offered in Ottawa for OSF Rehabilitation patients are available.

Patients in need of transportation services are encouraged to schedule a ride with an area public transportation provider, such as North Central Area Transit (NCAT) at (833) 433-6228 and Mendota Area Senior Services (MASS) at (815) 539-7700.