Influx of flu patients has ProMedica hospital ERs 'at or near capacity'

1/10/2018
BLADE STAFF
  • n4flu-jpg

    Certified pharmacy technician Peggy Gillespie fills antibiotics into a syringe for use as an I.V. push at ProMedica Toledo Hospital in Toledo Jan. 8. A nasty flu season is hitting U.S. hospitals already scrambling to maintain patient care amid severe shortages of crucial sterile fluids, particularly saline solution needed to administer I.V. medicines and rehydrate patients.

    ASSOCIATED PRESS

  • ProMedica on Wednesday urged patients with less severe injuries and illnesses to visit urgent care facilities instead of hospitals due to high influx of those coming in with the flu.

    Flu patients have ProMedica hospitals and others across Lucas County “at or near capacity,” ProMedica officials said in a written statement.

    Officials on Wednesday said ProMedica will not divert EMS patients, but added their emergency departments are nearly at capacity.

    ProMedica encouraged patients with less severe illnesses and injuries to visit one of its seven urgent care centers. ProMedica Urgent Care treats people 6 months and older for minor and non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses, including sprains, cuts, bladder infections, and minor burns.

    ProMedica Urgent Care locations are open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

    Toledo has two locations, located at 3430 Secor Road and 6755 Central Avenue. Locations are also open in Maumee, Holland, Sylvania, Perrysburg, and Oregon.

    Check back on this story for updates.