COVID-19 UPDATE
In an effort to keep our patients, staff, and community safe during this pandemic and to be compliant with social distancing we have made some changes in our office to help with these practices. We want to keep our patients and community up to date on these changes. You can find information here and on our Facebook page.
-Our office will operate from 9-3 during the next few weeks, stay tuned to our FB page for the most up to date changes.
-No children allowed in the office during this time.
-Only one visitor allowed over the age of 18 with OB patients.
-You and your visitor must be healthy and free from illness to enter our office.
-Temperatures will be checked on all people entering into the office during this time.
-Outreach Clinics are cancelled until June 2020.
-We are going to be rescheduling routine well visits and non urgent visits for those over age 65. We are encouraging other well women and non urgent visits (Not OB) reschedule, we are following Interim guidelines issued by ACOG, Society for MFM, and ASCCP that were released during this Pandemic.
In accordance with CDC recommendations, starting on Monday May the 4th, we are asking that all patients use a mask when coming into the office. For the OB patients that have a support person accompanying them to the appointment, if they are not using a mask they will be asked to wait in the car. We have a limited supply of masks we can give our patients.
The following suggestions were shared with us via the Effingham County Health Dept and have come directly from the IDPH website:
-To minimize exposure to the public, vulnerable patients, and healthcare workers-
-> Persons with mild respiratory illness should STAY HOME and SELF-ISOLATE. Mild respiratory illness includes fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Stay home and keep healthcare access available for others with more severe illness.
-> If a person has a respiratory illness he/she should stay home for 7days after your symptoms started and for 3 days after your fever has stopped without the use of fever-reducing drugs, and your cough or sore throat symptoms have improved (whichever is longer).
-> If a person thinks he/she has COVID-19 and illness is mild, is not older and does not have an underlying health condition of concern, he/she does not need to see a provider and does not need to get tested.
-> If illness persists after 3-4 days, persons should consult their doctor via phone, text, or telemedicine before going in person.
-Person with SEVERE illness, older adults, or those with chronic health conditions of concern should consult their provider to determine if they need to be seen.
While the law allows employees to require a medical certification to be off work or a fit for duty certification to return to work, the Effingham County Health Department suggests that employers consider waiving this requirement to keep healthcare access available for others with more severe illness during this pandemic and to prevent spread of the illness in the provider office environments. With that being said, if you are sick please contact us and we will get you a note to be off work for this time requirement. Any questions please let our office know.
For more info on COVID-19 from ACOG click here.
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(217) 342-3337
