Dr. Patty Jackson and Dr. Jim Theis

09/07/2021

Hurricane Ida update:
Hello everyone - we hope you're getting back together after the recent storm, as we are. Dr. Jackson and Dr. Theis plan to start seeing patients in the office again this coming Friday, September 10th at 9am. The office next to West Jefferson Hospital has power, but not much is happening there yet. The staff and the doctors will all be back in New Orleans by Wednesday or Thursday of this week. We are available and can be reached by phone (504-349-2908) or via the patient portal. If you had an appointment scheduled during the time the office was/will be closed, please call us Friday or sometime next week to reschedule. Any questions or concerns at all - please reach out. We are still here for you.
Best wishes, Drs. Theis and Jackson and staff.

08/05/2021

Vaccines for the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 are now available in the office. We have doses of the Moderna 2-dose shot available now.

If you remain unvaccinated, there is no reason to wait. We know from millions and millions of doses already given, that the risk of severe infection and death from remaining unvaccinated is far greater than the small risk of a vaccine-related problem. Hospitalizations and death from COVID-19 are spiking in Louisiana and almost all of these unfortunate events are preventable.

Don't wait - if you still have questions or concerns about the vaccine, get off Facebook and call the office now to get accurate information abut the vaccine from someone you can trust - your own doctor.

05/19/2020

Office Update - Tuesday May 19

Hi all !

Just an update on the state of things here at the office and generally in the New Orleans area, from our perspective as primary-care physicians..

Our observation in day-to-day practice is that the total amount of disease circulating in the community is declining. More importantly, the Louisiana public health data support that conclusion and we will continue to make recommendations to our patients that follow the data and the recommendations of public health officials, both at the state and local level.

For the latest data on COVID-19 in Louisiana, including recommendations on the phased re-opening guidelines from the Governor, click the link below:

http://ldh.la.gov/coronavirus/

We still feel it is safest for many of those over 65 yrs old and those with certain chronic health conditions (brittle or unstable diabetes, unstable heart disease, chronic kidney or liver disease, immune compromise) to remain isolated and at home for now. Healthy older adults, including those with stable chronic diseases in need of routine follow-up, and those younger than 65 can begin to venture out a bit more, being careful to maintain social distancing and mask-wearing in public places where close contact with others is more likely.

Both Dr. Theis and Dr. Jackson are seeing patients in the office "live" as well as continuing online "telehealth" visits on Zoom and Apple FaceTime, for those who are self-isolating or in quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are happy to engage with our patients in any of these ways - please reach out to us here at the office if you need anything. We're fully "open", including for new patients. Know that West Jefferson Hospital's campus is doing a good job at keeping the facility clean and as safe as it can be at this time.

Stay safe out there. Wear a mask when you're at the store, wash your hands a lot, get some exercise, connect with family and friends, and stay in touch!

Drs. Jackson, Theis and the office staff

The Louisiana Department of Health protects and promotes health and ensures access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all citizens of the State of Louisiana.

03/28/2020

Office Update: Saturday, March 29

The office is open and both doctors are seeing patients again!

However, until the citywide stay-at-home recommendations are lifted, and the pandemic spread of coronavirus has passed, we are adjusting HOW we stay in touch with patients and address their concerns.

For our current patients, here are your options if you have health concerns:

1. As always, call the office at 504-349-2908. Lacie and Valerie are there every day and can answer whatever questions you have about seeing a doctor, refilling medications, etc.

2. PATIENT PORTAL: Contact us through the patient portal - if you need to be reconnected with that tool, or never were in the first place, call us and we can reset.

3. TELEHEALTH VISITS: Dr. Jackson and Dr. Theis are now "seeing" many patients through video conferencing (aka "Telehealth") visits. We encourage you to use this option for now unless you or your doctor believe a "hands-on" visit in the office (or at your home) s necessary. It is easy and effective and Telehealth visits are now covered by virtually all insurances, including Medicare. We can use Zoom (a popular online video conferencing platform) or Apple Face Time, for those of you with Apple devices. Our staff can walk you through how to set up a Zoom call anytime.

4. HOME VISITS: Dr. Theis is also making home visits for selected patients: mainly the elderly, those in quarantine who need medical care, and/or those with transportation issues. Lacie or Valerie can help you schedule one soon, if a Telehealth visit isn't possible or doesn't meet your needs.

Please stay in touch with us! Drs. Theis and Jackson are both healthy and back to work, ready to help you in whatever way you need.

Dr. Jackson, Dr. Theis and staff

03/19/2020

New Office Update - Thursday, March 19 @ 2PM

The office remains closed to patients, due to Dr. Theis contracting COVID-19 (the new coronavirus) himself. He was diagnosed late last week and remains at home in quarantine for now. He's feeling well and has already recovered completely. He and Dr. Jackson will be back in the office, seeing patients, on Thursday , March 26th - God willing.

There is some chance that the West Jefferson outpatient offices at the Physician's Office Building may close completely in the next few days. Those decisions have NOT been made and we are hopeful that this will not happen, and that we will be able to offer some in-office services starting on the 26th.

For those patients unable (or, due to legitimate concerns about the coronavirus outbreak are unwilling) to come to a doctor's office we now have a couple of options to maintain contact with you, our patients, and to be sure that your health needs are handled. These options are:

1. An online video, "telehealth" visit with Dr. Jackson or with Dr. Theis. Medicare and commercial insurance are waiving the usual restrictions for telehealth or "virtual" visits and are also waiving copayments. This is a great option if you want to just check in about any chronic health problems you have, discuss other concerns, refill medications, order labs at an outpatient lab if necessary, etc. We have been using Facetime on iPhone and Apple devices and we also use a free online platform called Zoom - it works on a PC, on Apple devices, and on all smart phones. Before a telehealth visit would occur, you would be invited to download that software. Feel free to reach out to us and request a telehealth visit anytime starting now.

2. A home visit - once released from quarantine on the 26th, Dr. Theis will probably be scheduling home visits with selected patients - those over 70 and those who have significant chronic health problems, which could make coming to a doctor's office a bit risky right now. A home visit for anyone who simply can't get out due to a quarantine order or due to mobility or travel issues may also be possible. A video telehealth visit (see #1 above) can work for a lot of things.

3. You can of course simply reply to the patient portal or call the office to discuss your needs. Quick issues or simple questions can be handled over the phone or through the portal, as always. For now, our main advice is to follow directions of public health officials. Unless you must go out, it's best to just stay home right now and avoid contact with the general public. The CDC and the Louisiana State Department of Health have excellent information on their websites. We encourage you to read and recheck that regularly. Those links have been posted here previously.

Please know that even in these strange times we are here and available to you. Please stay safe and stay in touch!

Best regards, Drs. Theis, Jackson and staff
Office phone: 504-349-2908

03/16/2020

To our patients - an important update on drive-up testing for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at West Jefferson Hospital - see message I received today (Monday, March 16) from LCMC:

Beginning today at noon WJMC will launch an external assessment center where patients can drive through to get screened, and possibly tested for Coronavirus. I thought you might want to educate your patients on this service as you deem appropriate.

In addition, For adult and pediatric patients experiencing minor symptoms such as fever, cough, body aches, sore throat, runny nose or any other cold like symptoms, they can call the LCMC Health Hotline 504-962-6202 to talk to our Care Management nursing team who stands ready to conduct over-the-phone screenings and advise on next steps for care. Our LCMC Health COVID-19 Hotline is available seven days a week from 9am – 7pm.

Please take advantage of this screening/testing center if you feel ill and believe you need to be tested.

thanks, Dr. Theis

03/16/2020

Office Update - Closed until Thursday, March 26th

We're sorry to inform our patients that effective immediately, we will be unable to see patients in the office for approximately 10 more days. Dr. Theis tested positive for the novel coronavirus late last week. He's doing fine, will fully recover without any problems, and will in all likelihood be seeing patients again on Thursday, March 26. Both Dr. Theis and Dr. Jackson are at home in quarantine at this time. We have notified all patients who may be at risk because of exposure. Our intention is to follow the best advice from public health experts both for our patients and for ourselves.

Although the office "closed" we are "open" in the sense that you may call the office at the regular number (504-349-2908) and speak directly with your doctor about any concerns you may have.

WE ALSO have the capacity to perform "telemedicine" visits over Skype (if video is needed) or simply over the phone and bill insurance for those visits. Please feel free to call us to take advantage of that, if needed.

** At this time, it is probably best to AVOID EMERGENCY ROOMS and URGENT CARE FACILITIES unless you have severe symptoms that warrant emergency care. Mild to moderate flu-like symptoms can be treated at home with symptomatic, over-the-counter medications. Going to a crowded ER just to be tested for coronavirus at this time probably is riskier than just staying put . Community testing, including drive-up self-testing, is probably a few days away. Please call us if you are not sure what to do. We can handle many things over the phone.

For now, we recommend all persons 65 years old and older and those with chronic health problems (congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, pulmonary diseases including COPD and asthma, immune system compromise) stay at home and limit exposure to anyone outside your home. COVID-19 is circulating widely now in the New Orleans area, so if you go to a grocery store or other place where large numbers of people go, you have real risk of contracting this virus. Please just stay home.

Wash your hands frequently. Stay safe at home unless you must go out.

Check the CDC update page here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html

And the Louisiana State Department of Health here:
http://ldh.la.gov/Coronavirus/

for evidence-based updates on current recommendations regarding the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Call us with any questions or concerns. 504-349-2908

Drs. Theis, Jackson and staff

CDC is responding to the novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. See information on source, spread, risk assessment and the latest U.S. updates.

01/21/2020

Blue Cross / Blue Shield SNAFU for Dr. Jackson - please don't worry, folks. Dr. Jackson IS and WILL CONTINUE TO BE a provider from BCBS, despite a letter you may have received from Blue Cross last week,

There was a clerical error with her recredentialing. there will be no lapse in coverage. If you want Dr. Jackson to remain your P*P, there is no reason to do anything.

Apologies for the confusion.
Regards,
Dr. Theis

11/01/2019

We hope everyone had a warm and Happy Halloween! 🧡🖤🧡