The clinic established earlier this month at the Nebraska Medical Center to deal with an increase of patients with flu-like illnesses will cease operations after closing on Wednesday, November 18.

The clinic was a response to unusually high numbers of people with non-critical flu symptoms coming to The Nebraska Medical Center’s emergency department in late October and early November.

The number of emergency patients has returned to more normal levels in recent weeks.

“It’s encouraging that we’re seeing fewer patients with flu-like symptoms,” said Shelly Schwedhelm, director of emergency, disaster and trauma services at The Nebraska Medical Center. “But it does not mean the threat of H1N1 flu has passed. If demand increases again, we will be ready to re-open the clinic.”

The clinic was staffed and operated by Donald Darst, MD of Midwest Regional Health Services. If the clinic is needed again in the future, Dr. Darst and his staff will again operate it from the same location on the medical center campus.