RVH, health unit, assessment centre busy
Posted By NICKI CRUICKSHANK
Updated 2 months ago
As flu season rages on in Simcoe County, local health providers are helping residents ward off or treat H1N1 symptoms.
Royal Victoria Hospital is still seeing high flu-case numbers, but hospital staff have come to expect that.
"It's common for us to see a spike in flu cases at this time of year, and this season. The most common strain of influenza is expected to be H1N1," said Deb Paton, RVH's manager of infection prevention and control and occupational health. "The best way to protect oneself from H1N1 is to be vaccinated, perform regular hand washing, and to stay home if you are ill."
Officials at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit say more than 36,000 people have been immunized against H1N1 at health unit clinics. More than 90,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine have been delivered to health-care providers, as well.
Paton said 3,000 people die every year in Canada from complications from the flu, such as pneumonia. In Simcoe County, about 50 people a year will die from similar complications.
The high-risk group for complications from the flu is still children under age five, people under age 64 with chronic illness and pregnant women.
"This flu strain has a relatively mild effect on the general population with symptoms lasting three to five days, and, typically, hospitalization is not required," Paton said.
For those who haven't received the H1N1 vaccine and have flulike symptoms, the flu assessment centre in Barrie is the place to go for diagnosis and treatment.
The centre opened last week and has already provided care for 167 flu patients.
The centre was opened to help divert the increasing number of people with flu-like illness away from walk-in clinics and emergency departments.
"Although we did treat a significant number of patients in the first week, we would like to see even more patients walk through our doors rather than visit emergency departments or urgent care clinics," said Dr. Monica Wolnik, medical director for the centre. "We have seen a small decline in people going to emergency departments and urgent care clinics, but we would like to see even more people using the centre.
"We want Simcoe County residents to be aware that this valuable resource is available to them," she added.
Staff at the centre, located at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 170 Steel St., are able to assess patients for flu, prescribe anti-viral drugs and at-home treatment options, provide information about H1N1 and how to ease symptoms, and refer patients for care, if required.
The H1N1 vaccination is not available at the centre.
Only those residents with flulike symptoms are encouraged to come to the centre for care.
The centre is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1 p. m. to 9 p. m., Saturday from 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. and Sunday from 5 p. m. to 9 p. m.
The centre was organized through a partnership between the Royal Victoria Hospital, Simcoe County, the Barrie and Community Family Health Team, North Simcoe Muskoka Community Care Access Centre and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
ncruickshank @ thebarrieexaminer.com
