Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) has opened a surge clinic to provide additional capacity for suspected flu cases, freeing up emergency beds for those who need a higher level of care.

Arapid screening process has been set up in the Emergency Department to determine those patients who may only need minor intervention for flu symptoms.

Those presenting at the PVHMC Emergency Department with less severe symptoms are triaged and transferred to the surge clinic, in the hospital’s Pitzer Auditorium, for minor treatment and advice on how to care for themselves at home. This may include pain management and prescription and over-the-counter medications to alleviate symptoms and increase comfort.

The goal of the surge clinic is to allow PVHMC to continue providing highquality and timely care for all patients who arrive at the hospital seeking emergency treatment.

During the rapid screening, intake staff is using Centers for Disease Control guidance for flu symptoms and identifying those who have minor severity of the flu.

PVHMC Emergency Department is open 24 hours, and the surge clinic is scheduled from 11 a.m. to midnight until the flu outbreak has eased.

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center: 1798 N. Garey Ave., Pomona, CA 91767 People who have the flu often feel some or all these symptoms:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Muscle or body aches

• Headaches

• Fatigue (tiredness)

• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.