N.J. hospitals adapt to surge of flu patients
By Melinda Caliendo
Flu season comes and goes every winter, some worse than others. This year’s flu, considered by many to be the worst in a decade, is forcing hospitals around the state to adapt to an unexpected influx of patients.
Hackensack University Medical Center has been averaging about 120 flu patients every day for a few weeks.
“Any time you are over 100, that’s at capacity,” said Bob Garrett, president and CEO of Hackensack University Health Network. “People are very sick with this flu.”
Garrett said Hackensack has set up a discharge lounge for patients who are ready to go home but need to wait for a ride or discharge instructions. He also said observation units are being used for patients who may not need to be admitted as inpatients but need to be monitored for 24 to 48 hours.
“If it really gets to be packed, with no more treatment space, we do go on divert with the ambulance squad, but we are the trauma center for the county, so sometimes these patients continue to come in even when we are on divert,” Garrett added.
Garrett also said the system is looking forward to when HUMC at Pascack Valley opens later this year to help with overflow patients.
https://www.njbiz.com/article/20130114/NJBIZ01/130119925/NJ-hospitals-adapt-to-surge-of-flu-patients