Emergency room or urgent care?

With influenza cases peaking and a stomach bug spreading, Reid Health’s being kept busy. That makes selecting the correct treatment option important.

Dr. Jennifer Bales, Wayne County’s health officer and a Reid emergency physician, shared during the county health board’s Jan. 14 meeting when to seek treatment from Reid’s emergency department or its urgent care facilities. Residents will be guided to the proper treatment regardless, but choosing correctly initially helps a patient receive care faster and keeps Reid’s system from being overloaded.

The emergency department at 1100 Reid Parkway in Richmond has more capabilities including advanced imaging beyond X-rays, all types of labs that could be needed and access to inpatient care. Bales said emergency room visits are proper for severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pains, severe abdominal pains, passing out, confusion, stroke-like symptoms and major injury or trauma.

Urgent care facilities at 1501 Chester Blvd. in Richmond and 1475 E. Ind. 44 in Connersville have X-ray capabilities and testing for viral problems, but not the ability to perform a full panel of bloodwork. Visiting urgent care is appropriate for a cough that won’t go away, sore throat, nasal congestion, urinary symptoms and minor injury. Urgent care can determine if a bone is broken and can test for viral illnesses when a patient is not yet too sick. Early identification of viral illnesses such as flu or COVID enables treatment by medications that need to begin early in the illness.

The health department no longer tests for COVID-19 or the flu at its location.

More information about when to visit the emergency room or the urgent care is available on Reid’s website at reidhealth.org/services/emergency-care/is-it-a-true-emergency.

Bales said the season’s first influenza peak is higher than the 2023-24 season, but not as high as the 2022-23 season. She said another peak will be expected during the October-to-March flu season, so receiving a flu vaccination now could still provide valuable protection.

COVID-19 cases also are rising across the state, but Bales said the cases Reid sees seem fairly mild.

A norovirus that causes vomiting and diarrhea is also circulating in the area. Bales said it’s manageable at home unless dehydration occurs or a patient prefers treatment for nausea. Handwashing with soap and water is the best protection against the norovirus, Bales said, and sick individuals should stay home to prevent spread of any illness.

Among the health department’s key performance indicators for the state’s Health First Indiana program are infectious disease surveillance and prevention, and immunizations. The department reports and investigates communicable diseases, Bales said, and it provides sexually transmitted infection testing.

Bales said there was a gap in some efforts as the department transitioned to its new administration, but the program is revving back up, including outreach efforts and partnerships, such as with local colleges.

The health department also offers a robust immunization program for COVID, flu and childhood immunizations, Bales said.

Last year, the health department provided 2,838 vaccinations, said Beth Newton, the deputy director for clinical services. The department conducted 40 off-site clinics in addition to its monthly visits to Cambridge City and Hagerstown and the services provided at its Richmond location.

Reid contract

The health department has contracted with Reid Health to provide services required by Health First Indiana, and Reid proposed amendments to the contract for 2025.

The health board on Jan. 14 and Wayne County’s commissioners on Jan. 15 approved the $96,702.52 proposal that included three parts: Hiring a third community health worker, salary increases and equipment for the community health workers, and additional hours for a lactation and prenatal education consultant.

The approvals were made contingent that the health department receives permission to carry over remaining 2024 HFI funds to 2025, which is expected.

Other issues

• The health board and commissioners approved a proposal from Nelco Advisory to be the health department’s consultant for the 340B program and audit. Nelco will charge a monthly rate for five hours of consulting and $12,500 for audit work. The 340B program allows the purchase of discounted outpatient drugs from pharmaceutical manufacturers.
• The health board approved standard operating procedures for responses to complaints about tattoo parlors and eyelash services.
• Chad Kircher was introduced as the deputy director for environmental services. Kircher, who began Dec. 30, previously served with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.