Your Child's Stay

Staying Healthy While in The Hospital

Bradley Hospital welcomes all patients and their families with open arms. We understand the importance of staying well and healthy. Furthermore, we believe patients will get the most out of treatment if they are in the best physical health possible. Here are some of the ways we promote well-being:

Hand hygiene - Proper hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of illness. We ask staff, patients, and visitors to cleanse their hands frequently using either soap and water or the hand sanitizer in dispensers throughout the hospital. Please wash your hands before entering or exiting units, before and after meals, after using the bathroom, after blowing your nose, and any time your hands are visibly dirty. Read more. 

Cough/sneeze hygiene - Germs fly into the air when people cough or sneeze. Other people can become ill by breathing the germs floating in the air or on surfaces. If you cover your cough or sneeze, germs  are less likely to spread to others. We ask patients, visitors, and staff to use a tissue or inner elbow to cover a cough or sneeze, and to clean their hands afterward. You should never cough or sneeze into bare hands, but if you do, please wash immediately or use hand sanitizer.

Limiting sick visitors - Visits from loved ones can make a child’s hospital stay a more positive experience, but for the health and safety of our patients, we ask that you come only when you are feeling well. When you arrive, a member of our staff will ask if you are sick, and if you are, you will be asked to reschedule your visit. We also remind all visitors to clean their hands upon arriving at the hospital and when entering or leaving the units. If you are coughing or sneezing, please ask for a surgical mask.

Flu vaccines for staff and patients - Influenza is an infection caused by a virus. The flu is spread from person to person through droplets in the air and contact with contaminated objects. Although most healthy people will get better within a few days to a week after coming down with the flu, for others it can cause serious health problems. The Centers for Disease Control recommends vaccination as the best way to prevent the flu. The vaccine is provided to all staff and patients at Bradley Hospital. While vaccination is recommended, we understand that it may not be right for every patient or family.

Monitoring for Multidrug-Resistant Organisms - You may have heard about the rise in Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs), also referred to as antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Two examples of these are MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) and VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococcus). If your child has signs of such an infection, the medical team may run lab tests. The risk of MDROs is low and you will be notified if there are any concerns about your child.

Rapid Response Team - Bradley Hospital has a Rapid Response Team. If you have a concern about the medical or physical status of your child, please notify the unit or registered nurse immediately. If you feel that your child’s needs require further attention, you may either request that a staff member call the Rapid Response Team or you may call them yourself at extension 88. If you are calling from outside the hospital to express a concern about a patient, please dial 401-432-1000. Identify yourself and your child and ask that the Rapid Response Team be sent to assess him or  her  immediately. Excellent, safe, and high quality care of your child is our goal. Please help us achieve that goal by communicating any concern you have.