Think you have the swine flu? Forget visiting the hospital or your doctor's office. Check out your drive-through options instead!
Many hospitals are turning to makeshift drive-through facilities to screen patients for H1N1 flu virus and prescribe Tamiflu to those who qualify. This approach is intended to keep the contagious virus out of emergency rooms and doctor's offices, where sick patients inside might be more susceptible to the dangers of the virus.
More Swine Flu
The new procedures are welcomed as the flu virus appears to pick up steam, particularly with school-age children. According to the most recent numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 states have reported widespread influenza activity, 11 have reported regional activity, and 12 states, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. are reporting local activity. Fox News reports this week that higher numbers are being reported just one week before the vaccination is supposed to be available for high risk patients.
The rise in activity has led some hospitals to set up temporary stations outside the main building to handle the flu overflow. This allows patients suspected of having the swine flu to be treated more efficiently. It also allows patients inside the hospital to remain unexposed to the influenza virus as much as possible. This is good news for those with compromised immune systems who are in the hospital for other medical conditions.
How Drive-Through Works
Some of the drive-through locations have a series of three tents set up for patients to move through in an orderly fashion. Exams include temperature checks, and medication can be prescribed if needed. Doctors are finding that few patients in these triage tents are requiring hospital admission. Many simply need to be reassured that it is safe to treat family members at home and to find out how to do so properly.
See it here: Drive-Thru Vaccination Bays being set up.
In addition to keeping sick patients out of emergency rooms, it is a more efficient method of screening in many cases. Some patients have found themselves in and out of the triage centers in a matter of minutes, rather than the hours it often takes in a typical emergency room. Doctors are even seeing some family members drive right up in their pajamas for screening, medication and advice before going back home to bed.
Some hospitals that have used the drive-through method believe that this may be the appropriate way to handle other emergencies in the future. Thus far, the drive-through approach seems to be helping many flu patients get the medical treatment and advice they need.
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