title: Impacts of rapid flu clinic services at an emergency department during the pandemic flu season.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We performed an assessment of an independent rapid flu clinic service (RFCS) unit, which was set up outside the emergency department (ED) during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic season. The unit was able to relieve the crowding of regular ambulatory and emergency services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between August and December 2009, a total of 6,152 patients with influenza-like illness were enrolled in this observational retrospective study. Patients with positive influenza tests were interviewed to evaluate the efficiency of RFCS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean length of stay (LOS) for the RFCS was 50 minutes, which was shorter than the LOS for ambulatory services (1 hour) and regular ED services (3.5 hours). Overall, 88% of patients were satisfied with the RFCS. Of 6,152 patients receiving flu tests, 1,235 (20%) had a positive result. Fever (odds ratio [OR], 4.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.11-5.89), fever combined with cough and sore throat (OR, 2.52; 95% CI: 2.18-2.92), fever combined with sore throat (OR, 2.42; 95% CI: 2.13-2.75), history of contacting confirmed flu patients within 7 days (OR, 2.40; 95% CI: 2.07-2.78), fever combined with cough (OR, 2.19; 95% CI: 1.92-2.47), sore throat (OR, 2.03, 95% CI: 1.79-2.30); and cough (OR, 1.91, 95% CI: 1.69-2.17) were significantly associated with positive influenza tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Setting up the RFSC was beneficial to health care facilities during a pandemic flu season.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Tzong-Shiann
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Chia-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Hsiang-Chin
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Shih-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ching-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wen-Chien
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Yi-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yen-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Bor-Shyang
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: Chih-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058873:Pandemics; D010343:Patient Admission; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology