WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- In the face of a large uptick in the number of patients coming into emergency rooms worried about the H1N1 flu, one hospital in Walnut Creek is urging would-be patients to exercise restraint.

the John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek is sending out 460,000 mailers to homes giving information on what to do if you suspect you or someone you know has the H1N1 flu. It's called "Know When to Go".

It urges people to seek help from primary care providers, and not to come to emergency rooms unless they have a real emergency.

"Stay away from the emergency room," said Doctor Wendel Brunner from the Contra Costa County Health Departments. "You're going to have long waits there if you're not terribly ill and your risk of getting H1N1 and other things exists, so medical emergency go to the emergency room."

Contra Costa County's Health Department reports there have been 196 hospitalizations and eight deaths in the county from the virus so far.