KVCH opens flu care clinic
According to hospital officials, the KVCH
Flu Clinic was initiated to help reduce the risk of flu infection to the
community, patients and healthcare staff by localizing flu care to a designated
clinic.
“We have been working closely with the
Kittitas County Public Health Department and collaboratively decided to
dedicate a clinic to flu patients in order to protect community members that
may have compromised health conditions and for those people who are otherwise
healthy,” said Craig Wilson, patient care administrator at KVCH.
Clinicians will assess and treat anyone
suffering from flu symptoms; patients do not need to have a primary physician
in order to be seen. Patients that have a primary care provider are encouraged
by KVCH to contact their physician’s office first to see if the flu clinic is
appropriate for their medical care or if they should be seen by their
physician.
The clinic is intended for people suffering
from mild to moderate flu symptoms. The hospital has asked the public to use
the hospital’s emergency department services only if immediate care is
necessary outside the hours of the flu clinic or if they are suffering from
severe flu symptoms.
Severe flu symptoms
include:
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
For questions about
the flu clinic or to make an appointment, call 509-933-8787.
