As our community copes with the fast-moving spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, we hope you and yours are in good health during these stressful times.
As you all know, the information and knowledge about this virus is changing, often several times a day. It can be quite unsettling and scary. I will provide as much current information as I can at this page.
Public officials of Contra Costa County have ordered shelter in place through April 7. https://813dcad3-2b07-4f3f-a25e-23c48c566922.filesusr.com/ugd/84606e_1870398d90a14bc09ff09bc944fcf71e.pdf Since medical facilities are on the essentials list, hospitals and many offices are still open. Other medical practices are closing and only interacting with patients via telephone and/or video conferencing. I have decided to do the same at least through April 7.
If you are scheduled to see me in the next two weeks, you should receive a call from my office to discuss a TeleHealth visit instead. You may also call my office directly. I was in test mode this week with several live patient TeleHealth visits using Skype and FaceTime. These visits went well, despite a few connection issues. We will continue to test and tweak to improve the process more and more each day.
During this restricted period, I may see a very limited number of patients in my office depending upon the need. If a rare exception is needed, we have modified our office practice to try to protect you and us. We are doing extra sanitizing and have eliminated all shared items like, pens, magazines, etc. We will be screening in advance each person entering the office, including a temperature check to minimize the risk of bringing the virus into the office. Any patient seen under these conditions will be limited to one additional person: caregiver, Case Manager, etc.
We hope you will be open to doing your visit via telephone or video conferencing. We expect to modify our routine and schedule as the pandemic response evolves. We diligently monitor throughout each day the medical updates that could affect all of us. We appreciate your understanding as we all try to navigate and remain healthy, during this unprecedented time in our lives.
Coronavirus Tips and Reminders to Stay Safe:
- DKP
As you all know, the information and knowledge about this virus is changing, often several times a day. It can be quite unsettling and scary. I will provide as much current information as I can at this page.
Public officials of Contra Costa County have ordered shelter in place through April 7. https://813dcad3-2b07-4f3f-a25e-23c48c566922.filesusr.com/ugd/84606e_1870398d90a14bc09ff09bc944fcf71e.pdf Since medical facilities are on the essentials list, hospitals and many offices are still open. Other medical practices are closing and only interacting with patients via telephone and/or video conferencing. I have decided to do the same at least through April 7.
If you are scheduled to see me in the next two weeks, you should receive a call from my office to discuss a TeleHealth visit instead. You may also call my office directly. I was in test mode this week with several live patient TeleHealth visits using Skype and FaceTime. These visits went well, despite a few connection issues. We will continue to test and tweak to improve the process more and more each day.
During this restricted period, I may see a very limited number of patients in my office depending upon the need. If a rare exception is needed, we have modified our office practice to try to protect you and us. We are doing extra sanitizing and have eliminated all shared items like, pens, magazines, etc. We will be screening in advance each person entering the office, including a temperature check to minimize the risk of bringing the virus into the office. Any patient seen under these conditions will be limited to one additional person: caregiver, Case Manager, etc.
We hope you will be open to doing your visit via telephone or video conferencing. We expect to modify our routine and schedule as the pandemic response evolves. We diligently monitor throughout each day the medical updates that could affect all of us. We appreciate your understanding as we all try to navigate and remain healthy, during this unprecedented time in our lives.
Coronavirus Tips and Reminders to Stay Safe:
- The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Contact your primary care physician if you are experiencing these symptoms, particularly if your symptoms are severe, if you have traveled internationally in the last month, or if you have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19
- The best prevention you can take includes frequently washing your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer.
- Cancel any unnecessary travel.
- Exercise hunkering down at home with your immediate family and physical distancing from all others as best as you can. Reduced exposure does protect you and helps society contain the spread of this virus.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Cough into your elbow or a tissue and not your hands.
- Once again: wash your hands thoroughly.
- DKP