"Expert Advice: Alternatives to the ER During Busy Virus Season"

Area healthcare facilities are experiencing high numbers of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and influenza, with the Ohio Department of Health listing influenza activity as "very high." Dr. James Kravec from Mercy Health advises that most patients can be seen in primary care offices or walk-in care facilities, rather than the emergency room, which tends to be more expensive and has longer wait times during this busy period.