Beginning October 24th, Hotel Dieu Hospital and local family health teams, supported by KFL&A Public Health, will launch community influenza assessment clinics to address expected high volumes of pediatric and adult patients requiring clinical assessment
for pandemic H1N1 influenza.

The clinics will help to divert those with mild influenza away from the Emergency Department at Kingston General Hospital and Urgent Care Centre at Hotel Dieu, and so free local hospitals to focus on treating the most severe cases of influenza and other emergencies.

Who should attend a community influenza assessment clinic?

Generally, if you are experiencing influenza-like symptoms (fever,cough, sore throat, joint and muscle pain, headache), you should stay home until your fever is gone and you are feeling well.

If you are concerned about your symptoms, please contact your family doctor's office first or call TeleHealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. If you do not have a family doctor or if you are unable to access your family doctor due to high demand, proceed to your nearest community influenza assessment clinic. Patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. The community influenza assessment clinics are open to children and adults of all ages.

NOTE: If your symptoms get progressively worse and you experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

Hotel Dieu Hospital Influenza Assessment Clinic opens October 24th: An Influenza Assessment Clinic will begin operating at Hotel Dieu Hospital on Saturday, October 24. Clinic hours will be 5-10 pm, Monday to Friday and 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday. The public can access the clinic via the main Brock Street entrance. Security staff and signage will assist in directing them to the clinic registration area. Patients are asked not to come before the clinic's opening time in order to avoid congesting other hospital areas finishing their daily clinical activities.

Community influenza assessment clinics opening October 26th:

Additional community influenza assessment clinics will be opening on Monday October 26th through KFL&A at the following locations:

North Kingston Community Health Centre
400 Elliott Ave.
Monday to Friday
1-4:30 pm
(for North Kingston residents)

Kingston Family Health Team
797 Princess - Suite 102
7 days per week
12-8pm

Maple Family Health Team
Maple Key Clinic (Kingston Shopping Center)
1036 Princess St.
Monday to Friday 5- 9pm and Saturday & Sunday 2-6pm

Queen's Family Health Team
220 Bagot St.
Monday to Thursday 5-8pm and Saturday 1-4 pm

Queen's Student Health Services
Queens University
Monday to Friday 5-8pm and Saturday & Sunday 10am -2pm

Sharbot Lake Medical Center
Starting Oct 26
Monday to Friday from 3pm to 5pm

Verona Medical Center
Monday through Thursday from 3- 5pm; Fridays from 9am to 1:30pm

Please note the Influenza Assessment Clinics in KFL&A will not be offering pH1N1 influenza vaccine.

The public is encouraged to reduce the spread of the pH1N1 flu by practising good hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette (cough into your elbow, not your hands), as well as by staying home when sick and getting vaccinated when it becomes available.

KFL&A Public Health has set up a dedicated influenza phone line, 613-549-5923, staffed by public health nurses from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays and 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday.