The Norman Transcript

Local news

Discussion

November 6, 2009

Emergency departments set record numbers

By Meghan McCormick

Emergency departments at Norman Regional Hospital and Moore Medical Center set patient records in October.

Norman Regional Health System Medical Director of Emergency Services Dr. Robby Frantz said 6,829 patients were treated at the Norman Regional Hospital emergency department in October.

"We saw 5,507 in the month of October last year, but we've been trending up about 5 percent per year over previous years," Frantz said.

Patient numbers also jumped at the Moore Medical Center emergency department in October.

NRHS spokesperson Kelly Wells said at least 3,485 people sought treatment at the Moore Medical Center emergency department. That number was up about 1,000 patients compared to October 2008.

Frantz said people are visiting both emergency departments with different illnesses and injuries.

"In October, we saw a little bit of H1N1 influenza, and we saw a lot of normal medical complaints and trauma," he said.

Frantz said Oct. 19 was the busiest day for Norman Regional Hospital's emergency department. Physicians treated 280 patients that day.

"After about Oct. 27, the volume started to decline a little at both campuses," he said.

Frantz said the H1N1 virus has played a role in the increase in emergency room visits.

"It started in the southern part of the United States and headed north," he said.

The doctor said there is no rapid test for the virus. The health department confirms the illness.

Frantz said since 2007, the number of patients treated at Norman Regional Hospital's emergency department has climbed. In 2007, ER doctors and nurses treated 65,113 patients. A year later, the number grew to 68,034.

"This year, we are projecting to see 71,353 patients," Frantz said. "We evaluate every day based on daily volume."

He expects the number to continue to climb.

"Between the two campuses we are projecting to see 100,000 ER visits," he said.

Before the health system set records in October, the last busiest month was recorded just a month prior, according to NRHS.

Frantz said 6,483 patients were treated at the Norman Regional Hospital emergency department in September. A year earlier, 5,763 patients were cared for at the same department.

He said the emergency department staff at both hospitals has no problem handling the extra number of patients.

"We've managed the volume pretty well. The satisfaction level didn't change. It's still above 90 percent," he said.

Frantz said patients have not had to wait any longer than normal for treatment.

"It didn't increase the length of stay in the ER," he said. "It was a hard month and everybody worked really hard."

Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com

Text Only
Local news
The Business Marquee
Facebook