Flu Concerns Grow for Minn. Hospitals

Jan. 02--MANKATO -- Concerns about a growing influenza outbreak have caused the Madelia hospital to restrict visitors and prompted the Mankato hospital to ask people to call first before visiting the increasingly crowded Emergency Department and Urgent Care sites.

"We're seeing delays just because of the sheer number of patients," Kevin Burns, a spokesman for the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, said Thursday.

Dr. Steven Campbell, chief quality officer at the Mankato hospital, urged people to call their doctor rather than immediately visiting a care facility if they have flu symptoms.

"The fact is not every one of these patients requires direct medical care; and so we strongly urge patients to contact their health care provider before going to a clinic, urgent care or emergencydepartment," Cambell said.

Anti-viral medication, which is being marketed directly to consumers, can't be prescribed to every patient under clinical guidelines, according to Dr. Ruth Bolton, who works in Urgent Care. That's one issue that can be cleared up with a phone call rather than undergoing a possibly long and ultimately disappointing wait for an anti-flu prescription at Urgent Care.

At the Madelia Community Hospital & Clinic, no one but immediate family members are being allowed to visit patients. Children under the age of five are also not allowed, and visitors are being restricted to two at a time per patient.

Anyone -- including staff -- showing signs of illness, particularly influenza symptoms, will also be prohibited from the facility. Influenza symptoms include fever or chills, muscle or body aches, sore throat or cough, stuffy nose, headaches and fatigue.

Dr. Owadini Bandara of the Madelia hospital strongly urged area residents to get a flu shot if they haven't already.

"Getting a flu shot is one of the most effective ways for each of us to avoid getting the flu and spreading the illness to others," Bandara said.

Copyright 2015 - The Free Press, Mankato, Minn.