MedStar taking over 20 flu calls a day in January, up tenfold over November
This flu is a very bad flu, and it's gotten even worse in January.
MedStar ambulances made 54 runs to pick up patients with flu-like illnesses in November, according to statistics obtained by the Star-Telegram on Tuesday. But that number ballooned to 203 in December before exploding to 271 by Jan. 13.
That's a tenfold increase from November, when MedStar was handling around two flu calls per day.
Their ambulances are responding to more than 20 flu calls per day now.
"These numbers are much higher than the past couple of years," said Matt Zavadsky, MedStar's chief strategic integrations officer. "The last time we saw volume like this was in 2013-14, when it was a bad flu season as well."
The most active ZIP code for flu calls in MedStar's coverage area — which runs from Burleson in the south to Saginaw and Haslet in the north — is 76116. That's the Ridglea Hills and Westover Hills area, just south of White Settlement. MedStar has fielded 25 calls in that area already this month.
Their ambulances also have fielded 23 calls in the 76112 ZIP code in east Fort Worth this month.
More flu calls this month, 20 percent, have come in for patients in the 50-59 age range than any other. Patients 50 and older have accounted for 65 percent of all flu calls, but school nurses in the area are also on the front lines.
Sixty percent of MedStar's patients this month have been females, and 40 percent are males.
Earlier this month, Tarrant County Public Health reported the first three flu deaths in the area.
To deal with the increased caseload, John Peter Smith Hospital opened an outpatient flu clinic Monday for patients who have flulike symptoms, but don't require emergency care. The hospital is encouraging nonemergency flu patients to go to their Family Health Center on the fourth floor of the outpatient building at 1500 S. Main St.
The clinic will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.
Tuesday, JPS will begin sending roving flu clinics homeless shelters and churches, according to KTVT. Walk-in visitors can get flu shots and treatment for flu symptoms 1-3 p.m. Tuesday at True Worth Place, 1513 E. Presidio St.
Saturday the roving clinic will pop up again at Unity Park, where the same care will be provided from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Matthew Martinez: 817-390-7667; @MCTinez817
This story was originally published January 16, 2018 at 8:47 AM with the headline "MedStar taking over 20 flu calls a day in January, up tenfold over November."