A slow start to this winter's flu season has eased some of the concern about large numbers of high-risk people left unprotected by a nationwide delay in distributing flu vaccine.

        But Tristate hospitals, struggling with a nursing shortage and recent closings, are still bracing for a seasonal rush of flu cases expected to start in the next several weeks.

DIVERSIONS

Figures reflect 14 hospitals in 1999 and 13 hospitals in 2000 that report diversions through the Hamilton County Communications Department. Each diversion reflects an eight-hour shift when a hospital asks life squads to take all but the most unstable patients to other hospitals. Month 1999 2000 January 10 42 February 31 14 March 26 17 April 29 9 May 4 11 June 6 15 July 10 18 August 3 40 September 3 43 October 1 45 November 2 57 December 14 34 Total 139 345 Source: Greater Cincinnati Health Council

        As of Thursday, Ohio has reported no lab-confirmed influenza cases. Kentucky has reported four, none in Northern Kentucky.

        In the Tristate, the flu usually peaks in January and February. But normally, Ohio expects to see at least a few confirmed cases by now, said Ohio Health Department spokeswoman Cheryl Lufitz.

        The slow start comes as a relief to public health officials because manufacturing problems caused the annual flu vaccine to be delayed for months. Last month, public health clinics were scrambling for supplies while many seniors spent hours in lines at groceries and pharmacies to get their flu shots.

        Some have feared the delay could lead to a spike in flu-related deaths if the virus struck early.

        “Every little bit of time helps for those folks who got their vaccine late,” said Dr. Glyn Caldwell, state epidemiologist for the Kentucky Cabinet of Health Resources.

        But even if the flu season turns out to be normal, hospitals have been concerned about their ability to handle the patients. That's because hospitals have been diverting life squadsat a sharply increased pace, even before the flu season hit.

        After three straight months of record numbers, ambulance diversions at 13 Tristate hospitals dropped to 34 in December. That's less than the 57 reported in November, but still twice as many as the 14 reported last December.

        Hospital leaders have warned the public that the high number of diversions is a sign of how difficult it will be to handle a surge of flu patients. But some plans have been made.

        In Cleveland and Akron, several hospitals will serve as flu sentinel hospitals, where flu cases and occupancy rates will be tracked daily once the flu hits.

        Ohio hospitals have worked out an agreement with the Health Care Financing Administration (the agency that runs Medicare) to allow swamped hospitals to place flu patients in beds not normally used for acute care. The agreement also would allow hospitals to reopen closed units and place patients in meeting rooms and cafeterias, if necessary.

        Although the policy changes will be based on flu activity in Cleveland and Akron, the changes would apply to hospitals statewide, said Richard Fox, senior vice president of Cleveland's Center for Health Affairs.

        However, at least for this flu season, HCFA did not approve the hospitals' most radical proposal: to open off-site “treat and release” centers as a last resort. Instead, that idea will be studied further, Mr. Fox said.

        Cincinnati hospitals will not serve as sentinel hospitals this year because there was not enough time to agree upon a daily flu patient tracking system, said Colleen O'Toole, vice president of the Greater Cincinnati Health Council.

        But there still may be time to get a flu shot.

        Local health groups are planning a blitz of flu shot clinics to be held Wednesday. However, locations have not been set, Ms. O'Toole said.

Police union backs accused officers
Internal probe clears officers
Mayor sees need to talk to heal racial divisions
Policeman ordered reinstated
A Survivor among us
'Survivor' a Tristate favorite
2 Tristate lawmakers in top posts
Ethics panel clears Ky. senator
Westwood to lead N.Ky. caucus
Forget Mardi Gras at MainStrasse
Property bought for UC medical complex
SAMPLES: 'Traffic'
CCM wins national design award
Flu concerns abate, but area hospitals remain on guard
Assembly takes on leftovers from 2000
Cold generates whopping tab
Deerfield sells off farmland
Ex-professor, provost mentioned as UK presidential candidates
Girl killed after video game knocked over
Health Cabinet must face shortfall
Legal Aid helps poor pay medical expenses
Legislators to get plan reforming elections
Meth lab suspect gets one break
New alternative to bypass surgery
Owner of house with cats will be allowed to rebuild
School board aims for improvements
UK president criticized for NCAA inquiry
Veto of captain's post invalidated
Voter registration deadline Monday
Year-round schools impress many
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report