03/17/2020
We understand that this might be a scary time for you and your family members with the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread. We have instituted the following steps to protect our patients:
We now have a telemedicine option for patients who do not want to come to the office. If you have a medical problem, please CALL our office at 831-638-9715 and we will determine if you can be evaluated safely by telemedicine, in the office, or need referral to a COVID tent.
Medical services are considered essential under the San Benito County stay-at-home order, so if you need to come in to the office, we are open for most services. Many visits involve exams or procedures that must be done in person, but practitioners are encouraged to conduct appointments remotely via phone or telemedicine when it is appropriate and feasible to do so.
We are also following the CDC recommendation that if a patient calls with symptoms consistent with COVID, they should not come to the office and should stay at home. If they are having significant symptoms and need medical care, they should be seen at the specialized COVID outdoor treatment tents at Hazel Hawkins Hospital or St. Louise Hospital.
We will no longer have patients wait in the waiting room. You will wait in your car until called up to be placed directly in an exam room. (You may have done this before when you were ill- now it applies to ALL patients). We ask that only essential people come with the patient. For example: a child and one parent, a disabled patient and one caregiver.
Patient flow in the office will be organized such that you will not be in contact with anyone except the medical staff. Magazines, books, and toys have been removed.
Anti-viral air filters have been placed in the waiting room and each exam room. The entire building has been fitted with high grade air filters.
Wellness visits and conditions not related to illness may be offered an in-office appointment. Respiratory symptoms will be scheduled for a telephone evaluation or referred to a COVID treatment center. If you have a telehealth visit, and the doctor determines that you need a flu test, you may be asked to drive to the office and remain your car for the test. The staff will come to your vehicle in masks and eye protection.
If you have a visit scheduled for one reason and develop COVID symptoms (body aches, dry cough, maybe fever, minimal or no nasal symptoms), please cancel your appointment. We can have a doctor call you regarding your treatment plan.
There are a few things you can do to decrease your chance of getting the coronavirus.
● Clean your hands often - wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds
● Avoid close contact with others, including handshakes or hugs
● Clean and disinfect surfaces daily
● Stay healthy by getting sleep, avoiding stress, and take your medicines
● Think twice before you go anywhere unnecessary. If you go somewhere with many people, please wash your hands when you leave and again when you get home, try not to touch surfaces and try not to touch your face.
● Encourage anyone who enters or exits the house to wash their hands.
● Try to keep some food items in your home that do not go bad, like pasta, beans, rice, and frozen fruits and vegetables. This will be helpful if you need to stay home for any reason - whether you are feeling sick or whether you are trying to stay healthy.
● Make sure you have enough of your medicines on hand. Please call our office if you are not sure and call your pharmacy if you will need a refill in the next month.
● It is really important that you take all of your regular medications so that you can stay healthy.
If you think you have been exposed to coronavirus or have symptoms such as a cough, fever, or shortness of breath, please CALL US FIRST at 831-638-9715 and we will advise on next steps. This is very important! We want to help keep you healthy and have plans in place to manage your care safely and effectively. We appreciate all efforts to help our community get through this hard time.
Hollister Family Medicine
