Tulsa health brief: Saint Francis at Home expansion, burn bans, and an updated flu outlook

Hospital-level care, at home: Saint Francis expands ‘Saint Francis at Home’

Saint Francis Health System is expanding a Tulsa-area program that brings some hospital-level services into patients’ homes. The health system said the model is intended for eligible patients whose needs can be safely treated outside the hospital, while remaining connected to Saint Francis care teams.

In a Feb. 24 update carried by 102.3 KRMG, Saint Francis leaders said physicians determine eligibility based on clinical criteria and safety, and patients can be monitored closely with support that may include clinician visits, nursing support, lab work, imaging, pharmacy services and coordinated follow-up after discharge. The report also notes partnerships with DispatchHealth for in-home care and CommunityCare for insurance coverage options.

In a separate Saint Francis announcement, the system said it is expanding its joint work with DispatchHealth to add more home-based services, including options that can support recovery at home after hospitalization for qualifying patients.

Fire weather and burn bans in Tulsa County

Alongside healthcare updates, public safety conditions are shaping health risks across the region. Public Radio Tulsa reported Feb. 24 that a red flag warning covered most of Oklahoma that day, with wind and dry conditions expected to allow fires to spread quickly. The report listed burn bans in multiple counties, including Tulsa County.

A federal drought update published Feb. 26 also noted persistent drought conditions in parts of Oklahoma and said burn bans have been issued in several counties, including Tulsa County, as agencies monitor wildfire risk and impacts.

Respiratory season watch: CDC updates flu hospitalization outlook

For families tracking respiratory illness trends, the CDC’s latest FluSight update (posted Feb. 27) said its national ensemble forecast expects new weekly laboratory-confirmed influenza hospital admissions to likely decrease, with a wide range of possible outcomes for the week ending March 7. The forecast is based on reports through Feb. 18 and is designed to describe national trends rather than predict conditions in any one city.

Sources

https://krmg.com/2026/02/24/new-saint-francis-program-brings-hospital-grade-treatment-into-patients-homes/
https://www.saintfrancis.com/news/saint-francis-home-expands-services
https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2026-02-24/fire-weather-danger-has-oklahoma-emergency-management-officials-on-high-alert
https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/drought-status-update-southern-plains-2026-02-26
https://www.cdc.gov/flu-forecasting/data-vis/02182026-flu-forecasts.html

If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.