Beginning today, November 12, the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) is offering expanded service on the Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline. Oregonians can call 1-800-978-3040 between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, or 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays for information on the flu, including the H1N1 (or "swine flu") virus. Three services are available on the hotline:
- Information and referral: listen to recorded messages about the flu, or be routed to an information and referral specialist who can answer questions about the flu and vaccines;
- Telephone triage: speak to a licensed healthcare provider about flu symptoms or exposure, and receive care advice, referral to a healthcare provider, or referral to the emergency room; and
- Clinician support: doctors, lab techs, pharmacists, nurses and other healthcare professionals can receive information about H1N1 treatment options and vaccines.
Oregon employers should consider providing flu hotline information to their employees. Click here to download DHS’s announcement of the flu hotline, which employers can print and distribute or email to their employees. For more information on H1N1 and the workplace, check out the DHS’s flu resource website, flu.oregon.gov. Outside of Oregon, check out the Center for Disease Control’s H1N1 resource site.