Methodist Dallas Medical Center is diverting nonemergency patients to other local hospitals due to an influx of flu cases, according to NBC DFW.
The hospital diverted nonemergency patients to prioritize care for patients experiencing trauma, stroke and other emergencies.Hospital officials are urging patients with flu-like symptoms to visit urgent care locations or their primary care physician.
"Consistent with federal and state laws, Methodist Dallas Medical Center is currently re-routing nonemergency patients due to high volumes of patients with flu-like symptoms," the hospital said in a statement, according to NBC DFW. "This measure is so we can still take care of emergency patients such as trauma, stroke, and those transferred by ambulance. We take this very seriously because we want to be able to treat anyone in need anytime."
On Jan 10, Methodist sent an updated statement to Becker's Hospital Review emphasizing patients were not turned away from the hospital.
"Methodist Dallas Medical Center [is] no longer at critical capacity and resumed receiving all patients coming in by ambulance in need of medical treatment ... At no point did Methodist Dallas turn away patients."
Editor's Note: This article was updated at 3:47 p.m. January 10, 2018 to include an updated statement from Methodist Dallas Medical Center and to emphasize no patients were turned away.