Anticipating a large increase of flu patients this year because of the H1N1 virus, U Hospital officials voted to add a new clinic specifically for people with the flu.
The flu clinic, which will be adjacent to the emergency room, is a way for the hospital to protect patients and hospital staff, as well as preventing overcrowding in the emergency room, said Chris Nelson, spokesman for U Hospitals and Clinics. Nelson said keeping flu patients separate from other patients will hopefully help prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus.
“The worst thing is to come (into a hospital) with a hurt finger and leave with the flu,” Nelson said.
University Hospital still has to deal with other injuries such as gunshot wounds and car accidents, Nelson said, adding that the average wait time in the emergency room is already two to three hours.
The clinic, which is still under construction, was not originally intended to be specifically for flu patients, Nelson said, adding that the hospital plans to use the space as a flu clinic during flu season and for other purposes the rest of the year. Nelson said the addition of the flu clinic would not increase the cost of the original project.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projected that up to 40 percent of Americans could become infected with the virus at some point within the next two years.