Calm Before the Second Storm

Concerned that the swine flu (aka novel H1N1 influenza A virus) will return from its summer vacation with a vengeance, hospitals across the country are developing procedures designed to lighten the burden of worried well on their ERs.  

According to this article from the Washington Post, everyone from the federal government to the American College of Emergency Physicians is working on ways to stem the flood and keep the country's limited number of critical care beds free for those who truly need them.

Like most hospitals, we were swamped with patients at the height of the initial swine flu scare this spring.  Whether or not patients will elect to avoid the ER and remain home this time around remains to be seen.