How Baptist East is addressing flu cases
The H1N1 flu and seasonal flu have both arrived in Kentuckiana.
The primary symptoms for the H1N1 (“swine”) flu are:
- Aches and pains
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Sudden fever
- Sudden dizziness (in some cases)
- Cough/head and lung congestion
- Diarrhea/nausea (in some cases)
If you have flu-like symptoms, first consider treating those symptoms with over-the-counter medications, or seeing your primary care physician. If you do not have a primary care physician, you may call our Physician Referral Service at (502) 897-8131.
Patients with flu-like symptoms who come to Baptist Hospital East for testing or treatment will be asked to wear a mask. There are no visitation restrictions currently, but visitors who don’t feel well may be asked to curtail or cancel their visit to our patients. As an alternative, patients can be sent eCards through the hospital Web site, baptisteast.com/ecards.
Baptist East is following the current CDC recommendation that only pregnant women, hospitalized patients and institutionalized residents be tested for H1N1. No others will be tested specifically for H1N1. If you have a positive Influenza A rapid screen, the assumption will be made that you have H1N1 and no further testing is indicated unless you are pregnant, a hospitalized patient or a resident of an institution.
If you have a negative Influenza A rapid screen, but exhibits symptoms consistent with the flu, we will assume that you have H1N1and no further testing will be done unless dictated by the CDC guidelines. In that case, a specimen will be sent to the state laboratory for definitive testing.
If you do have flu-like symptoms, the CDC currently recommends that you remain at home until at least 24 hours after you are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
If you are a healthcare worker with direct patient contact, the CDC currently recommends that you stay home from work for seven days from when symptoms begin or until the resolution of symptoms, whichever is longer.
An H1N1 vaccine has been developed and approved by the FDA. Baptist East and Baptist Medical Associates have enrolled to be a provider of the vaccine. Distribution and administration of the vaccination will be prioritized and guided by CDC and state recommendations.
Baptist East has an H1N1 readiness team in place to keep staff, physicians, volunteers and the public informed of how the hospital is handling the flu, and what steps all should take so that patients receive the best care possible.
To keep up with the latest information, go to the Centers for Disease Control Web site, www.cdc.gov or www.flu.gov.