PLEASANTON, Texas -- We’ve all heard about emergency room wait times and doctors’ offices overrun with flu patients.
But at a clinic about 30 miles south of San Antonio the staff hopes its 10-minute waiting time, late-night hours, and no-hassle payment options makes the drive easier for sick people or their families.
Thursday night was the first night the Flu Fast Track Clinic in Pleasanton is open. It’ll take patients’ vital signs, their temperature, and their blood pressure. South Texas Regional Medical Center has a hospital in Jourdanton that serves all of Atascosa County. That hospital's resources have been stretched thin with flu patients.
Danielle Flores, Marketing Director with STRMC, says, “Through our emergency department visits, we've seen a doubling of patient volume throughout the past few weeks.”
To deal with all the extra patients, the hospital decided to open up the off-site clinic. It’s only for people with flu symptoms. The staff is taking on extra shifts to cut down overcrowding and help sick people who don't want to hassle with the emergency room.
If you have flu symptoms you'll be tested for Influenza A and B. Hospital officials say it takes 10 minutes for these rapid tests to come back with the results. Doctors say it is usually H1N1.
The last steps include picking up a prescription and paying your bill. And this clinic even makes that easy on you. It will bill your insurance directly. And if you don't have insurance or your insurance doesn't cover this, it will cost you $65.
