AUSTIN, Texas - Doctors and other health care providers are on the front lines of the flu outbreak.

Across the state and country, they're booked to capacity, which leaves health care employees are exposed to the flu constantly.

"We have a lot of patients that come into the office and they ask 'how do you guys keep from getting sick?'" said Dr. Christopher Chang, a family practice doctor in Austin.

The truth is doctors do exactly what the average person does.

"We don't have any tricks to it. We still get sick also. It's a lot of frequent hand washing, making sure we are using alcohol hand gel in between patients, trying to avoid touching our mouths and noses when we are coughing and sneezing,” said Chang.

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Half of Chang’s patients at the Austin Regional Clinic Far West were in for something flu-related, which increases the staff's exposure to the illness more likely, even for employees that are not working closely with patients.

Most of their appointments are booked by 9:30 a.m.

It helps that some employers require their employees to get the flu vaccine, but it isn't completely effective.

When someone is out sick, however, finding another person to take the shift can be a challenge because most are already working long hours to help with the increased workload.

"The challenge has been (that) our cups are running a little empty. We’re starting early. We are working through lunch. We are seeing just that one more patient because we feel responsible to provide that care,” said clinic manager Ronnie Castello. "We want to be able to make a difference."

In January alone, Austin Regional Clinic had more than 100,000 patient visits and half of them were flu-related.