ROCHELLE — Rochelle Community Hospital’s Convenient Care department, which treats patients of all ages for minor illnesses and injuries with no appointment necessary, has seen an increase in viral illnesses over the past month, Family Nurse Practitioner Chenin Congrave Rude said Jan. 22.
RCH has seen an increase in viral illnesses, namely influenza A, COVID-19, RSV and strep throat. Congrave Rude said the patient population is up and “there is definitely a need.”
RCH convenient care is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
Congrave Rude said patients should come to convenient care for cough and cold symptoms and acute care needs, which would be conditions that have started happening over recent days or weeks. Convenient Care’s most common reasons for visits include back pain, broken bones, bronchitis, cold symptoms, cough, ear infections, ear wax removal, eye infections, rashes, seasonal allergies, sinus infections, sore throat/strep, sprains, strains bumps and bruises, urinary tract infections and wound care for cuts and scrapes.
“I would recommend coming in if you have a fever, cough or runny nose when these things are getting worse,” Congrave Rude said. “You should be assessed by a nurse practitioner to see if you need any treatment. We do take care of notes for work and school.”
RCH did implement visitor restrictions for the month of January due to the increase of respiratory illness in the area, and in an effort to better care for all patients, visitors, and employees. Restrictions included no one under the age of 16 being allowed to visit patients, two visitors per patient at a time on the medical/surgical floor, and one visitor per patient at a time in the emergency rooms and waiting areas. The hospital also asked anyone experiencing any respiratory symptoms to wear a face mask upon entering the premises.
RCH Manager of Outpatient Services Tracey Busby said the increase in illness and demand for Convenient Care “puts a significant stress” on the hospital.
“Because not only are the frontline workers responsible for assessing, treating, discharging and doing education for those patients, our ancillary services frequently are involved in that,” Busby said. “You see an increase in X-ray, laboratory and respiratory treatments. It cascades down to a lot of the other services that the hospital provides. It's not just patients being seen by a provider.”
RCH has reached daily capacity at Convenient Care more this year at this point than it did last year at this point. Because of the high volumes and long wait times, there is a daily capacity on the number of patients it can see in a day.
Congrave Rude reminded patients that they can save their spot in line at Convenient Care by using RCH’s online platform. She expects Convenient Care to continue to be busier through April or May.
The RCH family nurse practitioner also said she believes the hospital is seeing more flu cases than it has in recent years, which changes periodically throughout the years. She and Busby advised community members to stay healthy and control spread of illness by washing hands, covering coughs, staying home from school or work if sick, wearing a mask if sick, staying up to date with vaccinations, and seeking out primary care if needed to treat symptoms at home with over-the-counter medicines.
Congrave Rude said having RCH’s Convenient Care department is a “benefit to the community” that keeps patients from having to drive somewhere else like Rockford and having to wait several hours at another urgent care that doesn't know them. Over the past six months in her new position, she’s been able to develop a rapport with patients and their families.
Busby said Convenient Care meets the needs of Rochelle’s demographics.
“I think if you look at our community's demographics, we have a significant elderly population and it's difficult for them to get transportation out of Rochelle and we can really fit that need,” Busby said. “And we're centrally located. We see a lot of truck drivers and occupational needs. I think where we're at just gives people the opportunity to get the care that they need and not travel so far or have to find transportation. Those things are always barriers to care.”
