Palomar Medical Center Escondido sets up “flu tent’ for patients. Photo: Palomar Medical Center
ESCONDIDO–Palomar Medical Center Escondido is triaging flu patients in a temporary medical tent erected outside its Emergency Department to expedite treatment and contain the spread of the influenza virus.
Nurses are screening all entering patients to the emergency department, handing out surgical masks and directing anyone exhibiting flu-like symptoms to the medical tent where they will be treated and discharged or redirected for admission to the hospital.
The emergency department has been seeing an unusually high volume of patients this holiday season, treating as many as 40 percent more patients than the norm on any given day.
The Medical Center is also discouraging visitors except for care partners and immediate family members 16 and older. For the safety of the patients anyone exhibiting any illness will be asked to come back at a later time once they are fully healthy.
To help limit the spread of the influenza virus, wash your hands with soap and water often and consider getting a flu shot if you haven’t already done so.
Palomar Health provides a plethora of flu shot clinics. Click here for the schedule.
