The 2014-2015 flu season has begun and based on early assessments it has the potential to be severe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that hospitals nationwide are reporting flu related hospitalizations and deaths. This activity is expected to increase in the coming weeks due to the upcoming Christmas holiday. According to the CDC, Indiana is seeing widespread influenza activity. Adams Health Network is committed to helping our community stay safe and healthy during the holiday season. Health experts agree that the single best way to prevent the flu is for everyone over 6 months of age to get a flu vaccination each year. Each year researchers determine which strains of the flu are most likely to infect individuals and put that strain in the flu vaccination for the year. This year the flu strain has changed slightly. Although the vaccination is not an exact match it still provides protection against the flu virus that is circulating around the country. This year’s vaccination has been shown to decrease the length of time people are sick with the flu and reduces complications associated with influenza. It is not too late to get your influenza vaccination! AHN is monitoring the influenza activity in Adams County and the surrounding areas. We are working closely with the Adams County Health Department, local school districts, and local physicians to determine the amount of flu activity in the area. As the flu season continues AHN may find it necessary to implement some simple rules to help protect our patients, staff and other visitors. These temporary rules may include asking people who are sick to not visit patients in our facilities, limiting school aged children, or checking with a patient’s nurse before visiting. At this time it is NOT necessary to impose these restrictions; however we will continue to monitor this situation and keep our community updated. Please see your family physician for your healthcare needs, and for afterhours care, Statcare, Adams Memorial Hospital’s urgent care clinic, is open Monday through Friday from 4pm-9pm and weekends from 10am-2pm. Statcare’s holiday hours for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve will be from 12pm-4pm, but the clinic will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. As always, the hospital’s Emergency Department will be open on those days if the need arises.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 20:24:37 +0000
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