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http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alberta/2009/11/23/11879791-sun.html
Fatality closes flu units
Early end due to death
By NADIA MOHARIB AND TARINA WHITE, SUN MEDIA
Last Updated: 23rd November 2009, 8:31am
Alberta Health Services has suspended use of its Flu Response Units following the death of a Calgary woman who sources say required medical assistance for flu-like symptoms.
On Friday afternoon, a 911 call was made from a city home for a 51-year-old woman suffering chills, fever, vomiting and shortness of breath, according to Sun sources.
A Flu Response Unit was dispatched. The units were created to help handle the H1N1 pandemic.
The call was not classified as urgent, sources said, and the unit didn't arrive until 32 minutes after the call was received.
The speciality units are not designed to transport patients but are instead sent to assess people exhibiting signs of the virus to alleviate the workload of regular paramedic crews.
When the FRU arrived at the woman's home, she wasn't showing any vital signs and the paramedic immediately called an ambulance.
The 51-year-old woman died.
AHS spokesman Bruce Conway yesterday confirmed use of the Flu Response Units were suspended on the weekend as a result of a death on Friday.
Privacy laws restrict him from releasing patient details.
Prior to the death, the FRU had been scheduled to stop operating this week in conjunction with the closing of the four provincial H1N1 assessment centres, which are set to shut down today, said Conway.
The FRU and the assessment centres were scheduled to cease operations this week because of a drop in flu patients requiring medical assistance, he said.
As part of the plan to wind down the FRU, Calgary's four units were recently reduced to two, said Conway. The last two units weren't supposed to shut down until midweek.
"It was prudent to stop a few days early so that it can be reviewed just to make sure it wasn't a result of the FRU response plan," he said about the death.
NADIA.MOHARIB@SUNMEDIA.CA
Fatality closes flu units
Early end due to death
By NADIA MOHARIB AND TARINA WHITE, SUN MEDIA
Last Updated: 23rd November 2009, 8:31am
Alberta Health Services has suspended use of its Flu Response Units following the death of a Calgary woman who sources say required medical assistance for flu-like symptoms.
On Friday afternoon, a 911 call was made from a city home for a 51-year-old woman suffering chills, fever, vomiting and shortness of breath, according to Sun sources.
A Flu Response Unit was dispatched. The units were created to help handle the H1N1 pandemic.
The call was not classified as urgent, sources said, and the unit didn't arrive until 32 minutes after the call was received.
The speciality units are not designed to transport patients but are instead sent to assess people exhibiting signs of the virus to alleviate the workload of regular paramedic crews.
When the FRU arrived at the woman's home, she wasn't showing any vital signs and the paramedic immediately called an ambulance.
The 51-year-old woman died.
AHS spokesman Bruce Conway yesterday confirmed use of the Flu Response Units were suspended on the weekend as a result of a death on Friday.
Privacy laws restrict him from releasing patient details.
Prior to the death, the FRU had been scheduled to stop operating this week in conjunction with the closing of the four provincial H1N1 assessment centres, which are set to shut down today, said Conway.
The FRU and the assessment centres were scheduled to cease operations this week because of a drop in flu patients requiring medical assistance, he said.
As part of the plan to wind down the FRU, Calgary's four units were recently reduced to two, said Conway. The last two units weren't supposed to shut down until midweek.
"It was prudent to stop a few days early so that it can be reviewed just to make sure it wasn't a result of the FRU response plan," he said about the death.
NADIA.MOHARIB@SUNMEDIA.CA