H1N1 flu has been so prevalent this season, Rockingham Memorial Hospital is expanding its flu clinic by moving into a larger space and extending the hours of operation.

The hospital has leased the building previously used as the Dominion Business School in the Cloverleaf Plaza on East Market Street in Harrisonburg.

Crews are hanging dividers in the old classrooms, making each room into multiple consultation rooms. The room that used to be the school library will soon be the clinic waiting room.

The current clinic, at RMH Corporate Health in the Kroger Shopping Center, has seen an average of 20 flu patients an evening. The hospital's director of Primary Car Services, Terri Huffman says the hospital emergency room has also seen an increased number of flu patients.

She says it's unnecessary for a flu patient to go to the ER. The hospital will advertise the flu clinic expansion to decrease the number of patients tying up ER doctors.

Huffman says the extra space and extended hours will hopefully keep up with the demand.

"We've seen reports from other areas that hospitals are using tents in their parking lots, or some areas are having staff go out to patients cars to evaluate them. We think this will be a little bit nicer for our patients," says Huffman.

The new clinic will open November 2, and Huffman say it will stay open as long as there is a need.

The clinic will be open seven days a week, instead of four days, and will be open Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.