What is COVID-19?
Center for Disease Control (CDC) is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and now has been detected in locations internationally, including in the United States. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals. Reported illnesses have ranged from very mild (including some with no reported symptoms) to severe, including illness resulting in death. We are doing our part by following public health guidelines for screening, treating, safety precautions and reporting of COVID-19.
Screening for COVID-19
We are asking you questions to screen for COVID-19. Screening helps us diagnose and treat you and protect other patients, our health care personnel and others. Please call us before your appointment and reschedule your appointment, if you are experiencing any symptoms, have been in contact with anyone with symptoms/tested positive for COVID-19 or have traveled internationally in the last 14 days.
COVID-19 Protocol
- Please call ahead. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, fatigue), been in contact with someone with symptoms/tested positive for COVID-19 or have traveled internationally in the last 14 days, please inform the front desk.
- Please follow instructions prior to arriving at your appointment. We may direct you and your caregiver to take precautions prior to arriving at your appointment (such as wearing a mask or entering a certain door) or direct you to a different screening or care setting, such as an emergency department, or ask you to stay home and reschedule. Please follow these directions.
- Inform the front desk when you arrive. When you arrive at your appointment, please inform the front desk immediately if you or your caregiver have symptoms, were in contact with a person with symptoms/tested positive for COVID-19 or traveled outside the United States in the last 14 days.
- Please follow staff instructions, including wearing a mask prior to and during your appointment. The front desk may provide you with a mask and directions on precautions to take, including how to remain separate from other patients in the waiting room. We request that you follow all staff instructions.
- If you do not wear the mask when asked or follow staff instructions, we may direct you to a different care or screening setting or to return home, as medically appropriate. If you do not wear a mask when asked or follow other staff instructions, we may ask you to leave and go to the emergency department or other screening or care setting, to return home, make a telehealth appointment and/or rescheduling your appointment or surgery.
- We may direct you to the emergency department or other location for screening and/or treatment. We may refer you to the emergency department or other screening and care location.
- If symptoms develop, please call us or call 911, if it is an emergency. If you develop symptoms after an appointment, please call us for follow up care. If it is an emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Please inform all health care professionals of your symptoms and that you are being evaluated for COVID-19.
COVID-19 Reporting
Please be aware that we report to public health authorities, including if any patient is under investigation for the virus that causes COVID-19. We may report to (or as directed by) the CDC, information about you for public health reasons, including to the local or state health department.