GREENSBORO, N.C. -
Instead of ending up in the emergency room, flu patients who arrive at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital soon may be treated at one of two tents set up Tuesday in the hospital parking lot.
Hospital staff built the tents in anticipation of the next flu wave. Equipment and beds will be moved into the tents later in the week.
"The majority of the Triad saw the flu back in May and June," explained Jody Moore, the hospital's emergency management coordinator. "That gave us some time to plan for the second or third wave."
When that next wave hits, those with the seasonal flu will stay in the tents and be treated just like they were inside the hospital itself.
"We have heat and air .... data. It's a state-of-the-art facility like you will find in most hospitals," said Moore.
Serious problems like strokes will continue to be treated in the emergency room, and relatively minor injuries like twisted ankles will be directed to the urgent care facility.
"(One) goal is to separate patients who do and don't have the flu," explained Katherine Haddix-Hill, the hospital's emergency services coordinator. "We don't want to contaminate the other patients."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said there is widespread seasonal flu activity in North Carolina. Two weeks ago, Moses Cone Health System isolated over 200 patients a day, although now that number is down to between 100 and 150 a day.
Hospital staff built the tents in anticipation of the next flu wave. Equipment and beds will be moved into the tents later in the week.
"The majority of the Triad saw the flu back in May and June," explained Jody Moore, the hospital's emergency management coordinator. "That gave us some time to plan for the second or third wave."
When that next wave hits, those with the seasonal flu will stay in the tents and be treated just like they were inside the hospital itself.
"We have heat and air .... data. It's a state-of-the-art facility like you will find in most hospitals," said Moore.
Serious problems like strokes will continue to be treated in the emergency room, and relatively minor injuries like twisted ankles will be directed to the urgent care facility.
"(One) goal is to separate patients who do and don't have the flu," explained Katherine Haddix-Hill, the hospital's emergency services coordinator. "We don't want to contaminate the other patients."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said there is widespread seasonal flu activity in North Carolina. Two weeks ago, Moses Cone Health System isolated over 200 patients a day, although now that number is down to between 100 and 150 a day.
