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(Posted 6:30
p.m., Nov. 3)
Ottawa
Health Unit to open H1N1 assessment clinics on Wednesday
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
Ottawa residents
at risk from severe complications from the flu, or who are suffering from
acute flu-like symptoms, will be able to get checked out at one of six H1N1
assessment clinics starting Wednesday morning.
The assessment
clinics are being set up in the city's community health centres, all of
which are located in the urban core. The eastern most clinic is at the Dempsey
Community Centre at 1895 Russell Road.
The aim of the
assessment clinics is to ease the pressure on the city's emergency wards
which have seen a substantial spike in patients suffering from flu-like
symptoms over the past two weeks.
The clinics are
not intended for people worried about whether or not they or a family member
have the H1N1 virus, or people who are suffering from mild to moderate flu-like
symptoms. Their main purpose is to provide assessments for high risk individuals
who begin experiencing flu-like symptoms and are unable to see their primary
health care provider within 48 hours.
They are also
intended for individuals who experience a worsening in their condition beyond
what would be considered moderate. Residents who suffer a sudden worsening
in their condition, or experience severe symptoms, are being advised to
go directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.
In the far east
end, high risk individuals who begin experiencing flu-like symptoms and
residents who experience a worsening in their conditions have the option
of going to one of several walk-in clinics including the Orleans Urgent
Care Clinic which has seen a moderate increase in patients suffering from
flu-like symptoms.
According to
the OUCC's executive director, Marion Moritz, of the 250 patients who visited
the clinic on Monday, close to two-thirds were complaining of flu-like symptoms.
Should that number increase over the coming weeks, Moritz says the clinic
will bring in additional manpower to deal with influx.
"We will
expand our capacity to meet the demand and we will continue to treat anyone
who comes through our doors," says Moritz.
It should be
noted that in most cases the H1N1 virus is no more severe than seasonal
flu. In jurisdictions where they H1N1 virus has been prevalent for a number
of weeks now, the vast majority of people have experienced flu-like symptoms
for between three and five days. In moderate cases the symptoms persist
for up to seven days.
Complications
can arise among individuals in the designated high risk groups which include
pregnant women; children under the age of six; and residents under the age
of 65 who have underlying health issues such as people who have a cardiac
disease, chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes, cancer, weakened immune systems,
renal anemia or morbid obesity.
Individuals
who have a chronic health condition should consult with their physician
to see if they are at risk of developing complications brought on by the
H1N1 virus.
The H1N1 assessment
clinics will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
(Posted 7:30
a.m., Nov. 1)
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