If You Think You Have the FLU

Please wear a mask (provided at the desk).

Please wash hands or use hand-foam dispenser.

The Emergency Department does not automatically test for Influenza. Each patient situation is different.

The Emergency Department CANNOT test you for H1N1 Flu.

Per guidelines from the Health Department, only severely ill patients admitted to the hospital for flu may be eligible to be tested for H1N1 Flu, and only if they are approved by the attending doctor and the Health Department.

For more information, refer to the following resources:

• www.cdc.gov/flu
• www.willcountyhealth.org
• www.idph.state.il.us

Testing for the FLU

Silver Cross Hospital will use the following criteria from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Health Department to determine which patients need seasonal flu testing (we do not test for H1N1). Only the following patients with symptoms will be tested:

• Children under 2 years old
• Adults 65 years and older
• Pregnant women
• Patients less than 19 years who take daily aspirin
• Patients with chronic medical conditions