An FHH physician calls it a ‘significant increase,’ but ER staff can handle it.
Frederick Health Hospital
Frederick, Md (KM) It’s been a busy time at the Frederick Health Hospital emergency room with the number of patients coming in with symptoms of influenza. Dr. Ludwig Sadarian, the Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs at FHH, says the ER staff have seen about 148 adult patients, and 51 children with flu symptoms. “That’s a significant increase over the last two weeks, ten day to 14 days, compared to the previous month,” he says.
But Dr. Sadarian says the staff has been able to handle the rush. “I would say for flu, we definitely have enough capacity to take care of these patients,” he says. “Not all of them get admitted. Some of them it’s just a matter of making sure they’re either being followed up from an outpatient basis, or have proper medications. So yes, from a facility and staffing standpoint, we’re able to handle the increase.”
He also says special precautions need to be taken for patients who have several symptoms of influenza. “They are put in room with a sign that says ‘Droplet Precaution.’ That means anyone entering or existing the room, needs to be aware to wear a mask so the patient doesn’t expose the staff or any other patient around them to potential respiratory infection,”: says Dr. Sadarian.
In some cases, he says it would probably best for some patients to go an urgent care center or their primary care provider if they feel they’re coming down with the flu. “Most of the advice we give patients is depending on how severe the symptoms are, or that they have other co-morbidies, age-related issues, urgent care or primary care offices should be the first choice,” he says. “However, some patients are showing up the emergency room correctly, and their symptoms are more acute, and we take care of them.”
Dr. Sadarian says Frederick Health Hospital has not had to re-route flu patients to other hospitals in the region.
Cases of influenza have been surging across the country with Maryland seeing a second wave of the flu virus. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there’s a “very high” level of flu activity in 45 states.
In Maryland, health officials report that 11 .6 percent of visits to emergency rooms were due to the influenza, with 3100 residents hospitalized so far t his year.
The Frederick County Health Department says emergency room visits for the flu are “very high.”
Dr. Sadarain is urging residents to get their flu shots. “It’s offers immunity to an extent to either prevent full symptoms of influenza from the body,” he says.
The Health Department says so far only 33 percent of Frederick County residents have been vaccinated against the flu.
By Kevin McManus