PENSACOLA, Fla. — Citizens have noticed longer wait times at local emergency rooms and urgent care centers.
Hospitals say the spike in flu cases is bringing more patients through their doors.
According to the CDC, all but four states are reporting “high” or “very high” flu activity, while more than 8 percent of all visits to a health care provider are for flu symptoms.
“It’s a combination of factors that has unfortunately created this so-called perfect storm of cases,” said Dr. Gavin Harris, infectious diseases & critical care at Emory Healthcare.
No one from our Northwest Florida hospitals could speak with WEAR News on camera, but they shared statements.
Officials with Baptist Health Care say:
These illnesses have led to increased patient volumes across our communities’ health care facilities. Our teams triage every patient to safely treat them and ensure they receive appropriate care. In addition to Baptist Hospital, patients may visit Gulf Breeze Hospital, Jay Hospital, or our combined freestanding emergency room and urgent care locations at Baptist Medical Park – Nine Mile and Baptist Medical Park – Navarre.
Ascension Sacred Heart says:
Our recent expansions with freestanding emergency departments in Perdido Key and Pace, along with our established facilities on Nine Mile Road and Navarre, provide our community with greater access to emergency services closer to home, reducing the need to travel to our main campus while offering the same level of expert care.
HCA Florida West Hospital provided this statement:
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At this time, the ER at HCA Florida West Hospital and our freestanding ER’s at Perdido Bay, Pine Forest and Pea Ridge remain business as usual. While we have seen an increase in patients with illness or injury, our expert team of healthcare providers in our emergency rooms have procedures in place that help ensure safe, compassionate, and timely care to our community.