DW McMillan officials: Use doctors for flu, not ER

Published 1:51 pm Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Other offices seeing flu, as well 

 

DW McMillan Memorial Hospital officials are asking locals to refrain from using the emergency room for the flu.

“We are seeing a high volume of patients who have the flu,” said marketing director Jason Daniel. “Due to the increased risk of others contacting the virus and an increased risk to ER patients, we encourage you to come to the ER only if you have a medical emergency.”

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Daniel said those who feel like they have the flu should utilize their primary care physician or visit the Brewton Medical Center Walk-in Clinic from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or the D.W. McMillan After Hours Clinic, which is open Monday through Friday 4:30 p.m., to 11 p.m., and weekends from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Alabama is under a state of emergency due to the flu, and other offices not affiliated with the hospital are seeing a lot of flu as well.

MainStreet Family Urgent Care officials say they have seen a significant increase in flu cases over the past two months.

“So we encourage the community to seek care if they begin feeling ill,” Dr. Timothy Taylor of Main Street Family Urgent Care said. “Early detection of the flu allows us to begin a treatment that can decrease the length of illness, and get you feeling better faster. Furthermore, early detection helps decrease the potential spread of the flu, by mitigating exposure risks.”

Their clinic is open 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., on weekends.