News Release

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Emergency Departments Open Flu Clinics to Support Overflow

CHATHAM-KENT:  Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Colby, has certified that the demand for primary care services in Chatham-Kent is such that an alternate model of influenza assessment, treatment and referral is needed to meet patient needs for influenza care.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has opened "influenza overflow" clinics to help local residents who may wish assessment about their or their family member’s symptoms of influenza, and feel it is necessary to seek medical attention. These clinics are intended to temporarily address the increases in patients seeking care in the Emergency Departments in Chatham and Wallaceburg for influenza-like illness, and to reduce wait times for patients with symptoms of influenza.

Beginning immediately, Flu Clinics will be held daily from:

• Daily from 5 pm to 9 pm at CKHA's Chatham campus
• Weekends from 10 am to 2 pm at Sydenham Campus in Wallaceburg.

During these peak times, ED staffing is increased. Patients presenting to the Emergency Departments will be screened by a triage nurse, registered and redirected to the Flu Clinic where they will be treated by a Nurse Practitioner or Physician.

Chief of Staff, Dr. Gary Tithecott said, "The first point of contact for public with Flu symptoms is their primary care provider (family physician or family health team) so that the Emergency Departments are not overrun with non-urgent conditions.  However, we urge patients to seek urgent medical attention if they have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness." Emergency treatment is recommended as follows:

In children:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

CKHA's Pandemic Steering Committee meets twice weekly and monitors indicators such as ED volumes, in-patient volumes, and staff absenteeism.  The committee will evaluate and communicate, any adjustments as might be necessary to the Flu Clinic hours or services.

For more information about CKHA's infection control measures, please visit www.ckha.on.ca. Click on Patients and Family, then on Infection Control.

For more information about influenza, see these links:

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
http://www.ckha.on.ca/Site_Published/internet/PF_InfectionPrevention.aspx