PAGE: LOCAL NEWS
New flu hotline ringing off hook
By Ryan Brinks (October 29, 2009)
State residents clamored for the phone when the Minnesota Department of Health announced its new phone-based service for people with flu symptoms last week, and local hospitals are taking extra measures to keep the crowds away as H1N1 flu activity continues to concern health officials nationwide.
People with possible flu symptoms can call the Minnesota FluLine at (866) 259-4655 for information and treatment options. Professionals will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People with limited English skills will be connected with an interpreter. There is no charge for the call.
Callers with flu symptoms will be connected with a participating nurse at MN FluLine, or a nurse at a triage line operated by their own provider network or health plan. The nurses will evaluate the health concerns of callers and discuss treatment options, using consistent criteria to determine which treatment option is most appropriate for each individual.
Possible treatment options can include rest and fluids at home, a prescription for an antiviral medication, or medical evaluation in a clinic or hospital.
By providing assistance over the phone, the new service is expected to limit the number of potentially infectious people who gather in emergency rooms, urgent care centers and clinics.
“We have been concerned that this flu season could place a huge burden on our health care system,” said Dr. Sanne Magnan, Minnesota Commissioner of Health. “By providing support and treatment options to people over the phone, we hope this new service will allow our health care providers and facilities to focus on those people who most need their attention.”
Sanford Jackson Medical Center is providing masks to patients with flu-like symptoms, as well as a separate waiting area and room. Fairmont Medical Center has restricted visitors to The BirthPlace (maternity) to two support people per mother, and immediate family members age 18 or older to the Patient Care Unit, Critical Care Unit, Same Day Surgery, and the Lutz Wing Nursing Home.
“By restricting visitors in this way we can help protect patients who are most susceptible to contracting the flu,” said Dr. Rufus Rodriguez, chief of medical affairs at Fairmont Medical Center. “In addition, we strongly urge anyone — regardless of their age — who is sick or has flu-like symptoms to avoid visiting patients in the hospital or nursing home. We realize this may cause inconvenience for some people, but we are making this request in the best interest of the health of our patients.”
Avera, Regional Health and Sanford Health also joined together to strongly recommend visits to patients and residents be limited only to family members who are at least 18 years of age as well as clergy. Persons with any flu-like symptoms are asked not to visit until symptom free. Only those essential to the care of the patient should be in attendance.
Flu-like symptoms include cough, sore throat, chills, headaches, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea and/or fever. The signs and symptoms of the seasonal flu are much the same as the H1N1 flu.
While Jackson County Central schools are still reporting low flu-like absenteeism — 24 of 1,149, or 2 percent, as of Tuesday — one of the most recent of the 10 Minnesota deaths related to the H1N1 outbreak since last April struck close to home.
A Martin County woman in her early 60s who had an underlying health condition died from complications due to infection with the H1N1 novel influenza virus, MDH reported last Thursday, Oct. 22. To date, MDH has received reports of 611 hospitalized cases of confirmed H1N1 novel influenza in Minnesota. In addition, 230 schools reported last week to MDH that they had either 5 percent of their student body absent or three students in an elementary school classroom absent due to flu-like illness.
“We continue to follow this pandemic closely, and although we are seeing widespread infection due to H1N1 influenza, we are not seeing a change in the severity of the disease. Most people recover without complications, but unfortunately some people, particularly those who are pregnant, those who are very young or elderly, or those who have underlying medical conditions, are at risk for more severe illness or complications,” said Dr. Ruth Lynfield, state epidemiologist for MDH. “This is why we urge people to help stop the spread of this virus by staying home when they are sick and covering their coughs and washing their hands and by getting vaccinated.”
People with possible flu symptoms can call the Minnesota FluLine at (866) 259-4655 for information and treatment options. Professionals will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People with limited English skills will be connected with an interpreter. There is no charge for the call.
Callers with flu symptoms will be connected with a participating nurse at MN FluLine, or a nurse at a triage line operated by their own provider network or health plan. The nurses will evaluate the health concerns of callers and discuss treatment options, using consistent criteria to determine which treatment option is most appropriate for each individual.
Possible treatment options can include rest and fluids at home, a prescription for an antiviral medication, or medical evaluation in a clinic or hospital.
By providing assistance over the phone, the new service is expected to limit the number of potentially infectious people who gather in emergency rooms, urgent care centers and clinics.
“We have been concerned that this flu season could place a huge burden on our health care system,” said Dr. Sanne Magnan, Minnesota Commissioner of Health. “By providing support and treatment options to people over the phone, we hope this new service will allow our health care providers and facilities to focus on those people who most need their attention.”
Sanford Jackson Medical Center is providing masks to patients with flu-like symptoms, as well as a separate waiting area and room. Fairmont Medical Center has restricted visitors to The BirthPlace (maternity) to two support people per mother, and immediate family members age 18 or older to the Patient Care Unit, Critical Care Unit, Same Day Surgery, and the Lutz Wing Nursing Home.
“By restricting visitors in this way we can help protect patients who are most susceptible to contracting the flu,” said Dr. Rufus Rodriguez, chief of medical affairs at Fairmont Medical Center. “In addition, we strongly urge anyone — regardless of their age — who is sick or has flu-like symptoms to avoid visiting patients in the hospital or nursing home. We realize this may cause inconvenience for some people, but we are making this request in the best interest of the health of our patients.”
Avera, Regional Health and Sanford Health also joined together to strongly recommend visits to patients and residents be limited only to family members who are at least 18 years of age as well as clergy. Persons with any flu-like symptoms are asked not to visit until symptom free. Only those essential to the care of the patient should be in attendance.
Flu-like symptoms include cough, sore throat, chills, headaches, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea and/or fever. The signs and symptoms of the seasonal flu are much the same as the H1N1 flu.
While Jackson County Central schools are still reporting low flu-like absenteeism — 24 of 1,149, or 2 percent, as of Tuesday — one of the most recent of the 10 Minnesota deaths related to the H1N1 outbreak since last April struck close to home.
A Martin County woman in her early 60s who had an underlying health condition died from complications due to infection with the H1N1 novel influenza virus, MDH reported last Thursday, Oct. 22. To date, MDH has received reports of 611 hospitalized cases of confirmed H1N1 novel influenza in Minnesota. In addition, 230 schools reported last week to MDH that they had either 5 percent of their student body absent or three students in an elementary school classroom absent due to flu-like illness.
“We continue to follow this pandemic closely, and although we are seeing widespread infection due to H1N1 influenza, we are not seeing a change in the severity of the disease. Most people recover without complications, but unfortunately some people, particularly those who are pregnant, those who are very young or elderly, or those who have underlying medical conditions, are at risk for more severe illness or complications,” said Dr. Ruth Lynfield, state epidemiologist for MDH. “This is why we urge people to help stop the spread of this virus by staying home when they are sick and covering their coughs and washing their hands and by getting vaccinated.”