Cases on the rise in hospitals, when and how to seek care
Lima area hospital and health system leaders, as well as public health officials are reporting a significant increase in flu cases across Lima and the surrounding communities. As flu season reaches peak levels, Mercy Health – Lima, Lima Memorial Health System, Allen County Public Health, Auglaize Health and Putnam County Health Departments have come together to urge the community to take preventive measures and seek appropriate care based on symptom severity to ensure the best possible health outcomes for our residents while also preventing overwhelming our health care facilities.
“As we are seeing exceptionally high cases of Influenza A and other respiratory illnesses, it’s crucial for residents to take flu symptoms seriously and seek care at the appropriate level so we are able to continue delivering the right level of care at the right time, without overloading our systems,” said Matt Owens, MD, chief clinical officer, Mercy Health - Lima. “While we are experiencing record numbers of patients across our emergency departments, urgent cares, and primary care offices, we remain committed to providing the absolute best care for our community. We appreciate your patience as you may experience longer than usual wait times during peak season.”
