As Flu Shuts Down an Entire School, Health Officials Recommend Urgent Care Over the ED

Influenza infections are so rampant in Rexford, NY that an entire elementary school was forced to shut its doors for a day. Student absences were up to 20%, with faculty also calling in sick at such a rate that the school district was hard pressed to find coverage for the students who were in class. Considering that every day sick children and adults walked through the door increased the risk of spreading infection further, the dramatic move was also taken as a preventive measure. Another school in nearby Niskayuna, NY was forced to take the same action a couple of weeks ago, as well. As this was going on at the school district level, local health authorities were pleading with residents to visit an urgent care center instead of the emergency room if their complaints are limited to flu, earaches, minor cuts, and the like. The message is one urgent care operators have been trying to get across for years: You’ll be seen more quickly and at a lower cost in an urgent care center than you will in the ED.