Meritus Medical Center posted higher patient census this week than during pandemic surges
As viral illnesses spread through the community in the first week of the new year, Meritus Medical Center posted a higher number of patients than during surges in the pandemic, Meritus Health officials said.
Meritus staff are seeing more cases of RSV, flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory illness, according to a news release from Meritus Health, and they urged the public to be vigilant in trying to stem transmission.
“Our dedicated teams are working so hard to make sure our community has the level of care needed,” said Meritus President and CEO Maulik Joshi. “We want to make sure our community is aware of the high transmission of viral illness and remind them to be vigilant — washing their hands and masking if experiencing symptoms of illness — like a fever or cough.”
As of Jan. 3, Meritus Medical Center was caring for more than 300 admitted patients, Joshi said.
“What gets us through this time is our healthcare heroes and our community staying vigilant with masking and hand washing,” he said. “Our nurses, doctors and frontline workers are committed to taking care of this community and it shows each and every day. We pride ourselves to have open access in so many care settings.”
Health Department: Get your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations now
Symptoms, and what you should do
Different situations require different levels of care, he noted. Those who are showing symptoms of viral illness — such as chills, fever, headache, cough or vomiting — should consider their severity to make sure they are seeking the appropriate level of care.
Chief Medical Officer Anand Budi recommends plenty of fluids, over-the-counter medicine to control fever, and lots of rest for patients experiencing viral illnesses.
But, particularly with children, you should seek medical help if you notice trouble breathing, have changes in appetite and a temperature over 102.5 degrees, he said.
Patients who are not experiencing a medical emergency can consider other options, including Meritus Urgent Care on Crayton Boulevard or Meritus After Hours Pediatrics on Eastern Boulevard, both in Hagerstown; or online help through MeritusNow.
Urgent Care medical professionals treat everyday illnesses for patients of all ages from 7a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, visit www.meritushealth.com/locations/meritus-urgent-care or call 240-313-3100.
After Hours Pediatrics is a walk-in care facility for children that is open after your primary care office is closed. The facility treats pediatric patients up to age 21 from 6 to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1 to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more information,visit www.meritushealth.com/locations/meritus-after-hours-pediatrics or call 301-302-7837.
MeritusNow provides a virtual visit with a healthcare provider. To learn more or to schedule an online appointment, visit now.meritushealth.com.
Patients and visitors are encouraged to mask at Meritus facilities ift hey have symptoms of viral illness, including fever/chills, cough, runny nose/congestion, sore throat, muscle or body aches and vomiting and diarrhea.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: New year's crop of viral illnesses sending more patie ts to hospital
