Preparations Underway at Our Office:

•   Stocking up on the necessary protective equipment
•   Monitoring the CDC’s communications
•   Working with the medical community including our hospital affiliates, to try to keep care coordinated
•   Developing procedures and protocols on whereto direct people based on symptoms and risk factors

When to Contact Us or Seek Medical Care:

•     Call your doctor’s office immediately if:
        o    you have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath and you or someone you have been in contact with has recently traveled to areas with recent outbreaks. This includes China, Iran, Japan, Italy, South Korea, and certain areas in the U.S.
•   If you are ill and wish to seek care, please call ahead.  We want to ensure we can provide safe care for all of our patients. We may need to make special accommodations to limit the spread of the virus.
•   If you experience a medical emergency, dial 9-1-1.

When to Stay Home:

•    Patients with mild viral syndrome symptoms do not need to come to the offices or ERs to be checked for coronavirus, only those with more severe disease. In the absence of high fevers and/ or more significant respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath, staying home with supportive care is recommended.
•    Do not go to work, school, or public places if you are ill.

Measures to Stay Safe:

•      Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
•      If you cannot access water, use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least a 60% alcohol content. We know these can be hard to purchase but are increasingly available for use in stores and public places.
•      Disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces with cleaning spray or wipes.
•      Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
•      Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Know the Symptoms:

Coronaviruses cause respiratory illnesses, ranging from common cold symptoms to pneumonia. The virus can spread from person to person. Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
The elderly, those with cardiac or lung disease, and diabetics are especially at risk of more severe disease.

Where to Find More Information:

To read more about preventing the spread of COVID-19, visit:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html
If you are planning any travel outside of the U.S., visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html
To read more on the CDC website, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

Message Posted Friday March 13th, 2020