For the first time in its history, Visalia, Calif.-based Kaweah Delta Medical Center set up a second surge tent outside its emergency department Wednesday to manage a sharp increase of flu patients after receiving approval from the California Department of Health, reports the Fresno Bee.
The medical center first pitched a surge tent Nov. 22 to accommodate the influx of flu patients and surge in volume from a recent closure of Tulare (Calif.) Regional Medical Center, which was located about 10 miles away.
Due to a relentless flu season, which has yet to peak, the hospital erected a second tent this week.
"We are pulling out all of the stops and doing everything under the sun to take care of patients during this very challenging flu season," Gary Herbst, CEO of Kaweah Delta Health Care District, told the Fresno Bee. "We've actually never had two tents up at the same time."
The California Department of Health granted approval Wednesday to Kaweah Delta Medical Center to begin using the second tent for patient care. It will be used for a staging area for patients brought to the hospital via ambulance but do not have life-threatening conditions.
The medical center is urging patients with non-threatening conditions to visit urgent care centers or primary care clinics.