SCHS takes standard precautions in light of the swine flu outbreak
While no cases of the swine flu that has caused illness in Mexico and parts of the United States have been reported in Oregon or Washington yet, St. Charles Health System is taking standard precautions to prevent the spread of any type of influenza among staff, patients and visitors.
Masks are available at the front desk, registration and Emergency Department entrances at the hospitals in Bend, Redmond and Prineville, said Marty Betsch, disaster preparedness coordinator for SCHS. Patients and visitors who feel ill will be offered a mask for their protection and the protection of others. Caregivers are also encouraged to wear a mask if they are concerned.
At this point, it is important to remember that the cases of the swine flu reported in the United States so far have been fairly mild, said Darin Durham, registered nurse and manager of the Emergency Department at St. Charles Bend. No deaths have occurred in the United States from the illness to date.
Patients who present to the Emergency Departments in Bend, Redmond or Prineville will be screened for symptoms of influenza and tested for the illness only if they show signs of the virus, Betsch said. For those who test positive for influenza A, a follow-up test will be conducted by the Oregon Department of Health and Human Services to determine if the strain is the H1N1 swine flu. The results of those tests are expected to take several days to a week.
"We are still at the tail end of influenza season in Oregon," Durham said. "We expect to continue seeing a handful of influenza cases that are not the swine flu over the coming weeks."
Resources for more information about the swine flu -