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Monday, Nov. 02, 2009
Pike opens 24/7 flu clinic, first in state
By Mary Meehan and Dori Hjalmarson
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PIKEVILLE ? Those feeling flu-y in Pikeville now have a 24/7 clinic all their own, one of the first of its kind in the state.
In order to alleviate flu traffic in the emergency room, Pikeville Regional Medical Flu Center opened Monday. Doctors had seen dozens of patients by the close of business. The center offers complete testing, X-ray and lab services.
Patricia Harrison of Cowpen in Pike County took her daughter Candace, 10, to their family doctor when Candace first got sick about a month ago. She didn't have the flu then, but her aches, pains and cough have lingered. So an after-hours clinic recommended chest X-rays, which the flu center provided. Bloodwork and swab tests were to determine within a couple of hours whether Candace had the flu.
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"It seems every time she goes outside she gets sick," Harrison said. Even though it wasn't the flu before, "the doctor told us it can change very quickly."
About five minutes from the main hospital on North Mayo Trail, the flu center building was already used by the hospital for clinics. But a five-day renovation created a new registration area and six exam rooms, said Jerry Johnson, the hospital's chief operating officer. Additional staff was hired to allow the flu center to operate round-the-clock.
Like an emergency room, the flu center can bill treatment to health insurance. Those without insurance won't be turned away, said Joshua Ball, director of communications for the hospital
President Barack Obama's declaration of a national flu emergency was "a call to arms" but Johnson said ever increasing flu traffic to the emergency room was really the deciding factor to open the flu center.
The flu outbreak prompted school officials in Pike and Floyd counties to cancel classes last week. The hospital had already heightened its precautionary measures for hospital visitors, limiting entrances and requiring visitors to be at least 12 years of age.
"I think it's wonderful," said Crystal Newsome, public health preparedness coordinator for the Pikeville Health Department. "Anything that can help limit the spread of the disease is a step in the right direction."
More clinics are likely to be created if the current wave of flu doesn't abate, said Dr. Kraig Hambaugh, the state's epidemiologist. Kentucky has had a surge of widespread flu for about six weeks. Historically, he said, the number of flu cases comes in waves. It the current wave doesn't ease, he said, other hospitals may take similar action.
To keep track of flu vaccine availability or if you have other flu-related questions, call the Public Health Influenza Hotline at 1-877-843-7727 or visit http://healthalerts.ky.gov. The state also is posting school closings on the site.
http://www.kentucky.com/flu/story/1003009.html
Pike opens 24/7 flu clinic, first in state
By Mary Meehan and Dori Hjalmarson
<!-- CLOSE: #story_header -->
PIKEVILLE ? Those feeling flu-y in Pikeville now have a 24/7 clinic all their own, one of the first of its kind in the state.
In order to alleviate flu traffic in the emergency room, Pikeville Regional Medical Flu Center opened Monday. Doctors had seen dozens of patients by the close of business. The center offers complete testing, X-ray and lab services.
Patricia Harrison of Cowpen in Pike County took her daughter Candace, 10, to their family doctor when Candace first got sick about a month ago. She didn't have the flu then, but her aches, pains and cough have lingered. So an after-hours clinic recommended chest X-rays, which the flu center provided. Bloodwork and swab tests were to determine within a couple of hours whether Candace had the flu.
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if(miyahoo.ads[mi_live_or_preview].dart.enabled){ // 'live' or 'preview' is set during page build_krdDartInc++;document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/kentucky.news/special_packages;c2=special_packages;c3=special_pa ckages_homepage;!category=special_packages;templat e=article;pos=center6;group=rectangle;sz=300x250;t ile='+_krdDartInc+';ord='+_krdDartOrd+'?"><\/script>');}</SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT>
"It seems every time she goes outside she gets sick," Harrison said. Even though it wasn't the flu before, "the doctor told us it can change very quickly."
About five minutes from the main hospital on North Mayo Trail, the flu center building was already used by the hospital for clinics. But a five-day renovation created a new registration area and six exam rooms, said Jerry Johnson, the hospital's chief operating officer. Additional staff was hired to allow the flu center to operate round-the-clock.
Like an emergency room, the flu center can bill treatment to health insurance. Those without insurance won't be turned away, said Joshua Ball, director of communications for the hospital
President Barack Obama's declaration of a national flu emergency was "a call to arms" but Johnson said ever increasing flu traffic to the emergency room was really the deciding factor to open the flu center.
The flu outbreak prompted school officials in Pike and Floyd counties to cancel classes last week. The hospital had already heightened its precautionary measures for hospital visitors, limiting entrances and requiring visitors to be at least 12 years of age.
"I think it's wonderful," said Crystal Newsome, public health preparedness coordinator for the Pikeville Health Department. "Anything that can help limit the spread of the disease is a step in the right direction."
More clinics are likely to be created if the current wave of flu doesn't abate, said Dr. Kraig Hambaugh, the state's epidemiologist. Kentucky has had a surge of widespread flu for about six weeks. Historically, he said, the number of flu cases comes in waves. It the current wave doesn't ease, he said, other hospitals may take similar action.
To keep track of flu vaccine availability or if you have other flu-related questions, call the Public Health Influenza Hotline at 1-877-843-7727 or visit http://healthalerts.ky.gov. The state also is posting school closings on the site.
http://www.kentucky.com/flu/story/1003009.html