Updated at: 10/21/2009 8:58 PM
By: Laura Kennedy
lkennedy@wdio.com

Flu Hotline Now Available In Minnesota

Staff at the SMDC Nurse On-line call center--operated by registered nurses--say their call volume has quadrupled in the last week or two. Nurses are working extra hours to make sure everyone is treated.

Over at St. Luke's, the clinics and urgent care locations have been so flooded by patients with flu-like symptoms, they've had to call in extra manpower from other departments to help out.

But now, there's another resource. The Minnesota FluLine--launched Wednesday--is the first influenza hotline in the country offering free, statewide assistance with anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms. It also gives nurses the ability to prescribe anti-viral drugs over the phone.

Dr. Johan Bakken of St. Luke's says the Minnesota FluLine launch couldn't have come at a better time.

"If the public does use this resource, it will also limit the exposure to other individuals in the acute care facilities, so it may lessen the spread of influenza virus," he said.

The Minnesota FluLine will follow a similar protocol to SMDC's Nurse On-line, and hopefully take some of the pressure off the nurses as well as urgent care and clinic staff.

"We're all in this together and we're all going through this," said Dr. Timothy Burke of SMDC. "We're confronted with a very rapidly changing situation. We think this is an additional help."

It should also help patients get treated and on a quicker road to recovery.

Do you think you have flu-like symptoms?

Call the Minnesota FluLine toll free: 1-866-259-4655