One local hospital is taking more aggressive steps to fight the spread of H1N1.

(ABC 6 News) - As flu patients continue to overwhelm hospitals, one local clinic is taking more aggressive steps to try and prevent the spread of H1N1.

"Last week we were peaking at 160 patients a day that we were seeing with influenza like illness," says Sara Gabrick, Vice President of Patient Care.

With more and more flu patients coming into Winona Health, the staff now has a way to keep those patients away from others, by creating a clinic entirely for flu patients.

"We will prevent cross contamination amongst patients who have influenza symptoms and those that don't," says Gabrick.

The urgent care unit has been converted into the new flu clinic.

Patients with other urgent care needs must go around the block to the main hospital.

While doctors still recommend all flu patients to stay home, they still recommend those who are really sick to come in.

"If you feel like you need you be seen please come in and be seen, we do not want people at home trying to deal with it," says Gabrick.

She also adds that the patients who do come are usually the ones that have symptoms lasting for more than a week.

"There's no magic cure for H1N1 so it's important to treat the symptoms and really watch that and again do out best to prevent getting sick in the first place".

Winona Health says it will meet weekly for status updates to determine how long it will keep the temporary flu clinic going.

The provider is also keeping its temporary urgent care hours open longer to help accommodate non-flu patients with this change.