PACKED ERS DIVERT PATIENTS FLU CAUSES 57 PERCENT TO CLOSE TO TRAFFIC.Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer People with flu-like symptoms have flooded the already crowded emergency rooms at Los Angeles County hospitals, forcing some to divert ambulance traffic to neighboring facilities, officials said Wednesday. The county's Emergency Medical Services An Emergency medical service (abbreviated to initialism "EMS" in many countries) is a service providing out-of-hospital acute care and transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient believes constitutes a medical emergency. Agency, which tracks emergency department saturation, reported that the rate emergency rooms have been forced to close to ambulance traffic is up significantly from this time last year. ``Patients with flu-like symptoms such as high fever, cough, sore throat Sore Throat Definition Sore throat, also called pharyngitis, is a painful inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the pharynx. It is a symptom of many conditions, but most often is associated with colds or influenza. and body aches are encouraged to see their doctor for treatment,'' said Public Health Officer Dr. Jonathan Fielding. ``Emergency departments are very crowded this time of year and patients without life-threatening emergencies presenting in the emergency department can expect long delays as patients with more severe illnesses or injuries are treated first.'' In the last five days, 57 percent of emergency rooms have diverted ambulances for periods ranging from a few hours to most of a day. Overall this year, the county's four public hospitals have diverted patients an average of 63 percent of the time, up from 41 percent in 2000 and 9 percent in 1995. The county's 70 private hospitals diverted ambulances an average of 24 percent of the time this year, up from 16 percent in 2000. ``It means that hospitals request that an ambulance be diverted to the next hospital because they are so inundated in·un·date tr.v. in·un·dat·ed, in·un·dat·ing, in·un·dates 1. To cover with water, especially floodwaters. 2. that there is a feeling it would be safer for the patient to go to the next hospital,'' said Carol Meyer, director of the Emergency Medical Services Agency. Patients who come down with the flu should first contact their physician for care. If they do not have a doctor, they can contact the county health department's Health Info Line at 800-427-8700 for information on low-cost medical clinics throughout the county. Those who have significant illness such as diabetes, heart trouble or lung disease lung disease Pulmonary disease Pulmonology Any condition causing or indicating impaired lung function Types of LD Obstructive lung disease–↓ in air flow caused by a narrowing or blockage of airways–eg, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis; and who get sick with the flu are encouraged to use the emergency department if there is no other option. There are also precautions patients with the flu can take to avoid transmitting the virus to others. ``Influenza is extremely contagious,'' said Dr. Laurene Mascola, chief of the county's Acute Communicable Disease communicable disease n. A disease that is transmitted through direct contact with an infected individual or indirectly through a vector. Also called contagious disease. Control Unit. ``People with symptoms such as fever, cough, headache, muscle ache and fatigue should stay home during the first three to five days of their illness and avoid exposing others to the disease. It is important to drink plenty of fluids, eat lightly and use acetaminophen acetaminophen (əsēt'əmĭn`əfĭn), an analgesic and fever-reducing medicine similar in effect to aspirin. It is an active ingredient in many over-the-counter medicines, including Tylenol and Midol. as needed as needed prn. See prn order. for pain and fever.'' Additional advice includes the common-sense measures, such as: cover your mouth when you sneeze sneeze, involuntary violent expiration of air through the nose and mouth. It results from stimulation of the nervous system in the nose, causing sudden contraction of the muscles of expiration. or cough, and wash your hands well and frequently. If taken early, the antiviral agents amantadine amantadine /aman·ta·dine/ (ah-man´tah-den) an antiviral compound used as the hydrochloride salt to treat influenza A; also used as an antidyskinetic in the treatment of parkinsonism and drug-induced extrapyramidal reactions. and rimantadine are effective in reducing the severity of influenza A influenza A n. Influenza caused by infection with a strain of influenza virus type A. influenza A Infectious disease An avian virus, especially of ducks–which in China live near the pig reservoir and 'vector'; , while zanamivir and oseltamivir are effective in reducing the severity of both influenza A and B. These drugs are only available by prescription. Dr. Mascola said she recommends that parents give children and infants acetaminophen instead of aspirin to control fever. She reminded parents that influenza may be difficult to diagnose in children and advised parents to contact their family doctor or pediatrician if they are ill. It's still not too late to get a flu shot, though it generally takes 10 to 14 days before the vaccine becomes effective. Troy Anderson, (213) 974-8985 troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion