News

This year's flu season is proving to be one of the most severe in recent history. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention report that Influenza activity throughout LA county is widespread.

Due to the high volume of patients being treated in our emergency departments, please be advised that wait times for non-urgent cases may be significantly longer than normal. Please ask for a mask when you enter the building if you are seeking medical care for a flu-like illness and let the nurse or doctor know about your symptoms. For outpatient visits, please let us know about your symptoms prior to scheduling an appointment.

We also ask that family and friends postpone visiting our patients if they have the flu or are experiencing any flu-like symptoms.

Protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu by taking the following actions:

• Try to avoid close contact with respiratory symptomatic people.
• While sick with a flu-like illness, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• If you are sick with a flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• Cover your nose and mouth a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.
• Get a flu shot – it's not too late! Contact your primary care physician or local pharmacy for vaccine information.

For more information, visit the CDC website here: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2017-2018.htm