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St. Joseph Medical Center will set up separate flu area in emergency room
"With the outbreak of flu in Berks County expected to peak over the next three weeks, St. Joseph Medical Center will open a rapid flu-assessment area in its emergency room in Bern Township to handle the growing volume of patients seeking care for flu-like symptoms.
The area will open Monday, Jan. 14, and operate Mondays through Fridays from noon to 8 p.m., when most people with symptoms arrive.
The hospital will operate the flu area until the outbreak abates.
State-wide medical sources indicate that the flu outbreak is just beginning and is expected to become more severe over the next three weeks before it breaks, said Sandy Reedy, who manages St. Joseph?s Emergency Department.
...Patients with flu-like symptoms should check into the main emergency department so a triage nurse can assess their condition.
?Triage is an important part of the process, particularly so we can ensure that flu symptoms are not masking something more serious, like a heart or lung condition,? Reed said.
If patients? symptoms are clearly from the flu ? and they are not too severe, like dehydration ? patients will be directed to the flu area."
"With the outbreak of flu in Berks County expected to peak over the next three weeks, St. Joseph Medical Center will open a rapid flu-assessment area in its emergency room in Bern Township to handle the growing volume of patients seeking care for flu-like symptoms.
The area will open Monday, Jan. 14, and operate Mondays through Fridays from noon to 8 p.m., when most people with symptoms arrive.
The hospital will operate the flu area until the outbreak abates.
State-wide medical sources indicate that the flu outbreak is just beginning and is expected to become more severe over the next three weeks before it breaks, said Sandy Reedy, who manages St. Joseph?s Emergency Department.
...Patients with flu-like symptoms should check into the main emergency department so a triage nurse can assess their condition.
?Triage is an important part of the process, particularly so we can ensure that flu symptoms are not masking something more serious, like a heart or lung condition,? Reed said.
If patients? symptoms are clearly from the flu ? and they are not too severe, like dehydration ? patients will be directed to the flu area."
