COVID-19 Update and Patient Safety

COVID-19 Update and Patient Safety

We have been closely monitoring the CDC website briefings to keep up to date on the developments related to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

With the announcement last week from our Governor for people to stay home to limit the outbreak, we had to stop and assess and begin to implement some changes to our office policies based upon current CDC, American Medical Association and California Medical Association recommendations. We have also consulted with our physician consultant from Riverside County Medical Association and CMA.

Medical offices are deemed “essentials” so our office will remain open to serve you. We are however, taking steps to ensure the health and well-being of you and our staff to do our part to help minimize the spread of COVID-19.

We will continue to actively monitor the situation and make policy changes as needed so things may change from one day to the next; these are uncharted waters.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to continue to serve you while being conscientious and proactive to limit the spread. 

Safety Measures Implemented:

For all patients that do to need a face to face appointment, we are offering a telephone or two- way video appointment. You will need to have appropriate access for video on your smart phone, tablet, or computer. I am still in the process of deciding the best platform, it may be ZOOM. You will be contacted to have your upcoming appointment converted upon your consent to either telephone or video appointment.

For face to face appointments (in person office visits) 
All Patients will be contacted prior to appointment with health screening questions as advised by the CDC.

Screening questions: 

  • Do you have a fever, cough or feel short of breath?
  • Have you traveled to any of the following areas in the past 14 days to Italy, Spain, China, Iran or South Korea?
  • Have you traveled out of the country in the last 3 weeks?
  • Have you been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed or suspected to have Coronavirus?
  1. When a patient comes in for a scheduled appointment, screening questions are asked again as advised by the CDC.
  2. If the answer is YES to any of these screening questions, patients will not be seen for 14 days or until medically released by their primary care physician.
  3. All surfaces of the clinic are being disinfected daily, as usual but we are implementing a scheduled protocol.
  4. All equipment is disinfected after each use as has always been our policy.
  5. Employees are being told to stay home if they are sick.
  6. We ask that you please take care of yourself at home if you are sick and/or experiencing any of the above mentioned symptoms and please follow guidelines for when you need to be seen by a primary care provider.

Once again, we appreciate your patience as we ALL navigate through this time. We of course, cannot go through every scenario so if you have any questions, please call the office and we would be happy to assist you.

To Health & Wellness
Dr. Leita Harris
Mishael Arbuthnot, NP

Written by Nurturing