ABQ hospitals coordinate H1N1 responses

Posted at: 10/22/2009 12:47 PM
By: Austin Reed, Eyewitness News 4, and Reed Upton, KOB.com

Three Albuquerque area hospitals are coordinating their efforts to treat the H1N1 flue virus after the illness has caused bed occupancy rates to climb 25 percent in the past month.

Presbyterian, Lovelace and University of New Mexico hospitals staged a conference Thursday to update the public on the status of the virus in the state, one day after the department of health announced three more H1N1-related deaths.

The three health care providers are facing imminent shortages in tools used to treat H1N1 including masks and syringes. They are coordinating with the state, which stockpiles such supplies, to maintain an adequate supply.

“What we would really like to do,” said Kathy Davis, the chief nursing officer for Presbyterian, is limit the panic and know that most patients are experiencing the symptoms – they are lasting five or seven days and they are able to resume normal activities.”

“We really want to bring a sense of calm and that we are doing everything we can to manage the flu symptoms and manage our patients effectively.”

Hospitals have imposed new restrictions on who will be allowed into their facilities because of the virus. Presbyterian and UNMH hospitals are not allowing anyone in their facilities who are younger than 14, while Lovelace allows only people older than 18 in their hospitals and clinics.

Because of a shortage of the H1N1 vaccine, health officials have determined that pregnant women and children should be the first to receive the vaccine. Doctors say more vaccine should be available to six to eight weeks.

 H1N1 resources from the state health department

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