As the flu epidemic continues to hit the country hard, the Carolinas are lending a hand in Georgia where an emergency situation has unfolded.
Carolinas MED-1 Unit, a mobile hospital, was sent to Atlanta's Grady Hospital because it reached capacity. The emergency room is seeing a 25% increase a day in patients with flu-like symptoms.
At Novant Medical Center, the numbers have not reached capacity yet like Grady's ER, but the hospital is seeing six times the amount of patients with the flu compared to last year.
"Flu numbers are still increasing. I think it's been the highest this week than it's been in maybe 10 years," said Novant Health medical director Dr. Charles Bregier.
Dr. Bregier believes we are at the peak of the flu season, however, there is still a chance things could get worse.
"Well over 10% of all Novant Health's ER patients have flu-like symptoms right now," Dr. Bregier said.
Carolina's MED 1-Unit has 14 beds and two operating rooms. Doctors at Grady expect to see about 100 patients a day through the mobile center. Grady has contracted out the unit for at least the next 30 days.
Calling in a fully functioning mobile emergency center is something that's typically done after disasters like a wildfire or hurricane.
If any of the Charlotte area's hospital emergency rooms reach full capacity, the state, which also has a mobile hospital, would activate a plan.