Le Bonheur's E-R Overflows, Hospital Builds Tent to Handle Flu Patients

[cmmc]

Le Bonheur ER Overwhelmed with Patients with Flu-Like Symptoms

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story/Le-Bonheur-ER-Overwhelmed-with-Patients-with-Flu/jCRb4k0_gkCY_WNtvxTq8Q.cspx

Contributor: Shane Myers
Email: smyers@myeyewitnessnews.com
Last Update: 2:26 pm

Memphis, TN ? A Le Bonheur Children?s Medical Center spokesperson says its Emergency Room has seen so many patients a tent has to be setup outside of the hospital.

According to the spokesperson, the ER saw almost 400 people, Thursday, September 10, 2009, with flu-like symptoms making it necessary to set up a tent outside of the building. The hospital spokesperson says it will give the ER doctors more room to examine the patients in a timely manner.

Stay with myEyewitnessNews.com for more on this developing situation.

[Treyfish]

Le Bonheur's E-R Overflows, Hospital Builds Tent to Handle Flu Patients



<TABLE><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD> </TD><TD>Reported by: Lacey Crisp
Email: LCrisp@MyEyewitnessNews.com
Last Update: 10:07 pm </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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MEMPHIS, TN - A swine <NOBR style="COLOR: darkgreen; FONT-SIZE: 100%; FONT-WEIGHT: normal" id=itxt_nobr_0_0>flu</NOBR> scare is causing a rush on a local hospital. In the past two weeks, doctors and nurses at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center have seen almost three times the patients they normally see. They don't expect it to slow down any time soon. They have built a tent in the hospital's parking lot, a temporary flu clinic where doctors will be able to diagnose and treat patients.

?It's very packed, so we decided to come on out,? said Lorene Clayborn.

The hospital's emergency room is packed with people wearing facemasks.

?I wouldn't say it's serious. We are seeing a large amount of patients in the community, children with H1N1 flu. We expected this that we were going to have a lot of cases because there isn't a vaccination,? said Dr. William May.

?Our biggest concern is the number, we don't like to have to add extra space. We are just busy, very busy. We like to take care of patients, and we like to do it efficiently. This puts a burden on that ability,? said Dr. May.

Patients like Lawain Walker's son.

?We were coming for an appointment to see his surgery doctor. They took his vital signs and found out he had a fever of 104. They immediately rushed him to the ER,? Walker said.

Le Bonheur doctors usually see about 160 to 180 patients a day during the peak of the flu season. In the past two weeks they have averaged 350 kids a day. But doctors say they have only seen a handful of serious cases of the H1N1 virus.

?What we're asking parents if they can notify their pediatrician, family practice doctor and ask for advice because symptom control is the main thing that's most important. Very small number of kids will develop significant complications,? said Dr. May.

The biggest thing doctors are stressing at Le Bonheur; call your pediatrician before bringing your children to the ER where they are only going to be exposed to more germs.

Doctors want to remind parents the H1N1 flu is just like the seasonal flu, and your child will get better after a few days.

But they are expecting the flu to get worse before it gets better, which means the tent will probably be up for several weeks, until the ER quiets down.

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http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news...1Q.cspx?rss=59

[Pathfinder]

Re: Le Bonheur's E-R Overflows, Hospital Builds Tent to Handle Flu Patients

An 8 grader White Station Middle School student died suddenly of H1N1 on Monday at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital.


This is how the school responded:


Dozens of concerned parents called into a new H1N1 hotline Tuesday after a White Station Middle school student died from the virus.

Toya Nunnally was one of a handful of Memphis City Schools employees answering calls. She said many of the callers were concerned parents, wanting to know if any schools were going to be closed and what kinds of precautions the district is taking.

"I'm a mother, I know how they feel," she said.

Health officials stress good hygiene is the best defense against the H1N1 virus. If you or your child is sick, stay home.

"To date we have no reason to close schools," said Dr. Nieika Parks, Director of Coordinated Heath at MCS.

Despite the death of a White Station Middle school 8th grader Monday, Dr. Parks says the school will remain open.

"The only way we would close a school is if it became somewhat operationally difficult. So many staff that was out that maybe you can't have a functional school day," she said.

She added that MCS is working closely with the health department, analyzing the number of absentees at each school.

http://www.wreg.com/wreg-swinefluhotline-story,0,3852942.story

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Le Bonheur's E-R Overflows, Hospital Builds Tent to Handle Flu Patients

Here are the Pandemic Response Guidelines from the White Station Middle School web site

[tesseract]

Re: Le Bonheur's E-R Overflows, Hospital Builds Tent to Handle Flu Patients

Yes, not only is the school fully integrated, it's known for its diversity and academic excellence. It's in the top 3 of public schools in Memphis.

Parents were upset (I live in the area) because they didn't even know there was an outbreak going on at that particular school until they heard about the boy's death on the 10 o'clock news.

Letters went home to some schools the next day.

Many are also upset over the the fact that the system is still not alerting parents to outbreaks at their local schools. This is a statement from the the Superintendent's:

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news...3kYZ_Ikpw.cspx
Superintendent Kriner Cash told us Tuesday that he's keeping a close eye on two MCS schools where about 10% of the student body has gotten sick with the flu.

He wouldn't tell us which two schools are on his radar, but says in most cases, kids have recovered after a few days at home.

?If I find a school getting into the 20 or 25% range, that will be an alert to me to get health practitioners out there and make sure that we are doing everything that we need to do? says Cash.

News reports in the last day or so are suggesting some schools are already at 20% absenteeism in the city and at least one is at that rate in the county.

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Le Bonheur's E-R Overflows, Hospital Builds Tent to Handle Flu Patients

Here are the Pandemic Response Guidelines from the White Station Middle School web site

http://www.mcsk12.net/SCHOOLS/whites...te/index.shtml


Advice on how to clean school is given.

There does not seem to be any other flu information.

[Pathfinder]

Re: Le Bonheur's E-R Overflows, Hospital Builds Tent to Handle Flu Patients

LeBonheur Catches National Attention
'Pioneering " H1N1 Flu Treatment Processing

Published : Monday, 28 Sep 2009, 9:35 PM CDT
Lauren Lee

Memphis, Tn -

The innovative response of Le Bonheur Children's Hospital to the H1N1 flu virus has thrust Memphis onto the national stage.

Le Bonheur is using a triage tent outside the hospital to more easily and quickly process flu patients. The technique has caught the attention of national media.

The nightly news is a program broadcast across the nation. The crew spent Monday in Memphis looking at Le Bonheur's response to the H1N1 flu outbreak.

"They're doing a story on how we've responded to it and how Le Bonheur Children's, how we're a pioneer," says Crile Crisler with Le Bonheur.

Le Bonheur is the first hospital to use a triage tent to see patients, and administrators say its been incredibly successful.

"What normally would take us three to four hours, we're able to now see patients in 15 minutes," says Crisler.

Hospitals across the nation are starting to copy Le Bonheur's triage tent idea. The tent has been helpful to the Shelby County Health Department, which also was visited by national media.

"We're delighted that the national media is here because there is an overall understanding that Memphis really does represent the epicenter of some of the areas of the country where the pandemic is very visible," says Dr. Kenneth Robinson with the Shelby County Health Department.

Robinson says, now the whole country is seeing Shelby County is ready for the flu pandemic.

"It?s another indication that we have done pre-planning and that when such an even occurs, we can activate the plan," says Robinson.

"It feels good we've been able to do what's right for kids, have a good community response," says Crisler. "That's really what our goal is, to do what the community needs."

Besides the nightly news, representatives from Le Bonheur have also been interviewed by the Washington Post, Good Morning America, and NPR.

VIDEO link:

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/health/092809_LeBonheur_Catches_National_Attention