The ER is turning into "Swine Flu Damage Control Center"?

gonzo1, ASN, RN · May 6, 2009

After having had many hours cut and not getting much work I am happy for anything that brings people to the ER. But I do feel your pain. The patients think there is a pill/cure for everything.

Displaced · May 6, 2009

I love the look patients get when we tell them we have stopped testing for swine flu. I also love the doc offices who send them to us for swine flu testing after we have told them we no longer do it.

indigo girl · May 6, 2009

I guess that they were not listening when CDC put the information out about testing.

Seriously, I wish people would take the time to analyze what they are hearing, and get the facts. Do you think that your local media could reinforce the message, and make themselves useful?

inthesky · May 6, 2009

it is a record 101 today, so you might be in luck =P

Andy S., BSN, RN · May 6, 2009

lol I know I should be thankful for more numbers in the ED but they already cut staffing in anticipation of the summer slow down. So we are doing winter numbers with summer staffing, soooo much fun. I was happy to see the 101 today, keep it coming:)

:plsebeg: :onbch:

cursedandblessed · May 7, 2009

my brother is having the same problem at his er (well not his but where he works as a doc) in california. he was on for 30 + hours and he said it never ended. get some rest. you deserve it.

oramar · May 7, 2009

I love the look patients get when we tell them we have stopped testing for swine flu. I also love the doc offices who send them to us for swine flu testing after we have told them we no longer do it.

Pennsylvania is setting up it's own testing center. Our infection control people want accurate data on what is going on here. I think they are doing it because CDC won't accept anymore specimens.

indigo girl · May 7, 2009

County discourages ER trips for flu testing

http://www.northcountytimes.com/articles/2009/05/05/news/sandiego/z4e359fc3f798a9d8882575ad005fdc61.txt

The county's top health official issued a plea Tuesday asking residents to stop visiting emergency rooms just to be tested for the H1N1 flu strain, also called swine flu.
"Our local emergency departments are being severely impacted with people bringing in children to be tested," San Diego County Public Health Officer Wilma Wooten said in a written statement. "Only those individuals that develop complications from influenza-like illness should be evaluated by their primary care providers."
Nurses for North County Health Services in San Marcos delivered curbside care Tuesday, greeting patients by taking their temperatures, asking questions about how they were feeling and, in some cases, fitting them with face masks.
The outdoor triage station was part of the clinic's response to concerns about swine flu. The clinic saw 171 walk-in patients Monday, about double the average, after last week's announcement that Mission Hills Middle School in San Marcos was closed because of concerns about influenza, clinic officials said. The school was scheduled to reopen Wednesday.
"As the volume increased and the symptoms became more concerning, we didn't want patients with a fever or high flu risk in with the rest of the people in the waiting room," said Dr. Kevin Ellis, chief medical officer for the 10-clinic system.
Patients with the greatest likelihood of flu infection were given a face mask Tuesday and sent directly to an exam room.