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Alberta docs prepare for fall flu outbreak
By KERRY DIOTTE, SUN MEDIA
Last Updated: 10th October 2009, 5:37am
Alberta family doctors are being urged to delay seeing patients for "non-urgent" appointments and to screen others by telephone who complain of flu symptoms so they won't drop into clinics and infect others.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) recently sent out that advice to physicians amid fears up to 35% of Albertans could come down with the flu this fall, the majority with a new and deadly strain of H1N1, said Dr. Rollie Nichol, AHS associate senior physician executive.
"(Doctors) could be considering the nature of non-urgent service," said Nichol. "Say you've got someone coming in for a blood pressure check. That could be easily delayed."
Other non-urgent care, including annual checkups, could also be put on hold, he said.
Family doctors are being encouraged to undertake a form of "telephone triage," said Nichol.
That means doctors or their staff would try to screen by telephone anyone who calls complaining of flu-like symptoms, he said.
The AHS is also recommending doctors' staff wear masks.
People who phone their doctors' offices complaining of flu-like symptoms will likely be asked to come in at specific times when other patients aren't around, said AHS spokesman James Finstad. Serious cases may be sent to emergency wards, he said.
Free flu immunization shots against the common flu variety will be available beginning Tuesday, he said. Once the H1N1 vaccine arrives a few weeks later, health officials will switch gears and begin immunizing people against that strain.
The troubling thing about an impending fall outbreak of H1N1 is it's a new variety of the disease so "there's less immunity to it," said Finstad.
The province of Alberta has set aside up to $100 million to battle an H1N1 pandemic.
So far, H1N1 has killed eight people in Alberta and sent 133 to hospital.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/alberta/2009/10/10/11364896-sun.html
By KERRY DIOTTE, SUN MEDIA
Last Updated: 10th October 2009, 5:37am
Alberta family doctors are being urged to delay seeing patients for "non-urgent" appointments and to screen others by telephone who complain of flu symptoms so they won't drop into clinics and infect others.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) recently sent out that advice to physicians amid fears up to 35% of Albertans could come down with the flu this fall, the majority with a new and deadly strain of H1N1, said Dr. Rollie Nichol, AHS associate senior physician executive.
"(Doctors) could be considering the nature of non-urgent service," said Nichol. "Say you've got someone coming in for a blood pressure check. That could be easily delayed."
Other non-urgent care, including annual checkups, could also be put on hold, he said.
Family doctors are being encouraged to undertake a form of "telephone triage," said Nichol.
That means doctors or their staff would try to screen by telephone anyone who calls complaining of flu-like symptoms, he said.
The AHS is also recommending doctors' staff wear masks.
People who phone their doctors' offices complaining of flu-like symptoms will likely be asked to come in at specific times when other patients aren't around, said AHS spokesman James Finstad. Serious cases may be sent to emergency wards, he said.
Free flu immunization shots against the common flu variety will be available beginning Tuesday, he said. Once the H1N1 vaccine arrives a few weeks later, health officials will switch gears and begin immunizing people against that strain.
The troubling thing about an impending fall outbreak of H1N1 is it's a new variety of the disease so "there's less immunity to it," said Finstad.
The province of Alberta has set aside up to $100 million to battle an H1N1 pandemic.
So far, H1N1 has killed eight people in Alberta and sent 133 to hospital.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/alberta/2009/10/10/11364896-sun.html