With the prevalence of H1N1 reports throughout the Hills community, Regional Hospitals and Regional Senior Care facilities are asking anyone displaying symptoms of the virus to stay away.

The facilities are also discouraging visitation by children under the age of 12.

"We understand when a friend or family member is hospitalized, or in a senior care facility, you want to visit them to help cheer them up, but a sick visitor can be doing more harm than good," said James Keegan, chief medical officer of Regional Health and chief executive of Regional Health Physicians, in conjunction with Regional Health Infection Control professionals. "At this time of year, it is very important we remind those in our communities to refrain from visiting patients and residents unless you are well."

These visitation guidelines are in effect at the Regional Hospitals in: Custer, Lead-Deadwood, Rapid City (including the Regional Rehabilitation Institute), Spearfish and Sturgis. They are also in effect at: Belle Fourche Regional Senior Care and Sunpointe Regional Senior Care in Belle Fourche; Custer Regional Senior Care and Wedgwood Regional Senior Care in Custer; David M. Dorsett Regional Senior Care in Spearfish; Fairmont Grand Regional Senior Care in Rapid City; Golden Ridge Regional Senior Care in Lead; and Sturgis Regional Senior Care.

In addition, at Rapid City Regional Hospital and Spearfish Regional Hospital, only immediate family members will be permitted to visit the Intensive Care Units, Maternal/Child, Labor and Delivery (Newborn), Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

"We are asking the public to please work with us to protect all of our patients and senior care residents in this region," Keegan said. "This is an important subject for all of our communities. We are confident visitors share our concern about protecting the health of patients and residents."