Monday, October 26, 2009
Increased Emergency Department Activity At PRH Attributed To Flu-Like Illnesses Including H1N1
PEMBROKE – ‘Tis the season – flu season that is and no where is it more evident than in emergency departments throughout the province, Pembroke being no exception.
This past week alone there has been increasing evidence of H1N1 in our community with the Emergency Department at the Pembroke Regional Hospital experiencing higher volumes in the number of patients presenting with a variety of seasonal influenza and other flu-like symptoms.
“As a result of these increased volumes, patients coming to the Emergency Department can expect longer than normal wait times and we are encouraging people to carefully assess their need for coming in,” said Dr. Tom Hurley, the Hospital’s Chief of Emergency.
Instead, if experiencing mild symptoms, individuals are encouraged to stay home, get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, limit contact with friends and household members, ensure family members wash their hands often and clean frequently-touched surfaces. Tylenol and Advil can help reduce fever. For moderate symptoms such as a worsening cough, fever, fatigue, muscle aches etc. a family physician should be seen. Individuals should only be coming to the Emergency Department if their symptoms include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or high fever.
If your condition does require you or a family member to come to the Emergency Department, please ensure that you self-screen and perform hand hygiene at the entrance, limit the number of family members accompanying you and in no case should healthy children be brought along.
Because the Hospital staff and physicians need to focus on patient care, individuals seeking information about H1N1 or how to treat symptoms should call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000 or visit the Renfrew County and District Health Unit website www.rcdhu.com. Emergency Department wait times will not be given over the phone so please refrain from calling for this information.
In order to prevent the spread of illness or avoid catching H1N1 or any other infectious disease, wash your hands your hands with soap and water thoroughly and often, cough or sneeze into your arm or sleeve and stay home when you are ill.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Carolyn Levesque, Public Affairs and Communications Coordinator Pembroke Regional Hospital (613) 732-3675, ext. 6165 / carolyn.levesque@pemreghos.org.
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