OSCEOLA COUNTY -- Central Florida emergency rooms said they're dealing with a major increase in patients, and in some cases, are having trouble keeping up.
Four emergency rooms recently had to turn patients away in Marion County.
Meanwhile, Osceola Regional Medical Center said its ER has seen at least 60 more people at day come through its doors in the past few days, which is too many for the hospital to handle alone.
The influx has prompted the hospital to screen part of its waiting room and find additional spots for patients to wait.
Doctors said they're not sure why this is happening now, but some doctors said it could just be the time of year.
"It’s the cold and flu season. Therefore, we’re going to see a lot more patients. We’re also getting into allergy season. So we’re seeing people with the pollen allergies, itchy noses, sneezing, congestion (and) sinusitis,” said Dr. Timothy Hendrix, the Centra Care Medical Director.
Dr. Hendrix recommended if you're feeling sick, you should ask yourself a few simple questions.
- Would you consider your condition a minor emergency? Like a cough or cold?
- Do you have symptoms similar to the flu or common cold?
- Do you need an X-ray or prescription for your condition?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, Hendrix said you would be a good candidate to go to a center or doctor's office.
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