Sky Lakes Medical Center has installed “cough kiosks” – stand alone dispenser for tissues, hand sanitizing gel and hygienic masks – to help prevent the spread of illness, specifically the H1N1 virus know as swine flu.

The kiosks also provide information on proper cough etiquette and hygiene, said Tom Hottman, medical center spokesman.

Hottman said the H1N1 virus is new ground for many community health planners.

“H1N1 is pernicious.  It’s slow burning.  We don’t know where the beginning or where the end will be,” he said.  “We’re planning for the worst and hoping for the best.”

The hospital will follow its preparedness goals, which include providing care for acutely ill patients, ensuring staff safety and ensuring continuity of services.

“We want to make sure we have the right people, and the right skills in the right place at the right time,” Hottman said.  “A lot of our planning to date, the parts I’ve been involved with, have been looking at how we can do that and ensure staff safety by looking at precautions and looking at not getting sick in the first place.”

The medical center has made a request for vaccinations and will follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s priority checks when administering vaccines, he says.

Article featured in September 19, 2009 Herald and News