Fla. Hospital Calls 911 to Find Swine Flu Patient
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. --
She was a swine flu runaway. A woman with a possible case of the virus left a Seminole County hospital and the hospital was so desperate to track her down they called police.
Hospital officials told Eyewitness News it was an unusual case, but it goes to show they still have major concerns about the swine flu.
911 CALL:
Hospital Calls About Patient Who Left
VIDEO REPORT:
The positive test apparently came back after the woman walked out of the hospital. A nurse told police dispatch they couldn't find her, but Eyewitness News actually found the patient at an apartment complex.
When a nurse at South Seminole Hospital picked up the phone Thursday night, it was no typical call for help.
"All right, this patient went home yesterday against medical advice and now she's coming back positive for the swine flu," the caller told the 911 dispatcher.
On doctor's orders, the nurse wanted police or fire to help track down that elusive patient. She even directed them to the Logan Heights Apartments in Sanford, but according to dispatch records the fire department said "no," it wasn't their job.
"They told me they don't know what's wrong," the patient told Eyewitness News.
Eyewitness News had no trouble finding the patient at her apartment, but she said she didn't know the hospital was trying to reach her.
Eyewitness News checked it out and, if firefighters had responded, the nearest station is about a mile and half from that apartment complex. But the woman said she's been home the whole time and the hospital could've picked up the phone and called her.
A hospital spokesperson insists they tried repeatedly, but admitted calling police for help was "a first."
"Yeah, that she may want to go ahead and get Tamiflu or seek treatment or I don't know what she'll want to do. She's worried about it," the 911 caller told the dispatcher.
Eyewitness News actually had to tell the patient doctors were trying to reach her and, late Friday afternoon, the hospital said she called in and they've now got her set up with the right medication.
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