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COVID Updates / Visitor Policy

August 8, 2022

 

Our visitor policy remains the same as below, with one change - ​You may no longer call or Facetime with a support person during your visit. Thank you for your understanding.

November 10, 2021

 

Effective immediately, our office will be making the following changes to our visitor policy: 
 

  • Patients may bring 1 healthy adult (age 18 or older) to any appointment. To ensure we maintain proper social distancing in our lobby and waiting areas, we do ask that you come alone whenever possible. 

  • If you are alone during your appointment or ultrasound, then you may call or Facetime with a support person during your visit. To ensure patient privacy, we ask that you only use your phone in a private exam room and not where other patients are nearby. Please discuss this with a nurse or provider before using your phone. 

  • No children are allowed at this time, but patients may continue to bring their infant or toddler in a carrier/stroller. For everyone’s continued safety, our staff will not be responsible for holding or caring for a child that is not in a carrier/stroller.


As a reminder, the following will remain in effect until further notice. 
 

  • All patients and visitors will continue to be screened for COVID-19 upon arrival and with screening questions during our online check-in process. 

  • All patients and visitors must wear a well-fitting mask over their mouth and nose while they are in our office. 

  • All patients should practice social distancing while in our office by standing and sitting 6 feet apart. Our lobby chairs are clearly marked with available seating. You may also wait in your car, if you prefer, however please have a working cell phone with you so we can contact you when staff is ready to escort you to your exam room. 

  • Because of limited seating in our lobby, all visitors should accompany the patient to the exam room. If visitors do not wish to go to the exam room, then they will be asked to wait in their car. Visitors will not be allowed to wait in the lobby.

  • If you are sick (fever, cough, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste/smell), DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Call our office or your primary care provider for recommendations. 

  • If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 10 days, DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Please call our office at (252) 443-5941 first for recommendations.

August 25, 2021

 

Increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in our area have made it necessary to update our office visitor policies. Our primary obligation is, and has always been, the safety of our patients, physicians, and staff. Thank you for your understanding.

 

Effective Monday, August 30th, 2021, our office will make the following visitor changes:

 

  • Patients may bring one support person (age 18 or older) with them for their routine early dating ultrasound (~8-10 weeks) and the anatomy ultrasound (18-20 weeks) only. No visitors will be allowed at any other ultrasound. If you do not have a support person with you, then you may choose to Facetime or call that person at the time of your visit. Please discuss this with your physician or staff before initiating a call.

  • Patients may bring one support person (age 18 or older) with them to their first OB visit with the Perinatal Nurse. This visit can also be completed via Telemedicine. The first OB appointment is a visit to review your medical history and review office policies. Please note that this visit does NOT include an ultrasound.

  • Visitors/Family Members are not allowed at any other obstetric or gynecologic appointments unless:

    • The patient herself is a minor child (The minor patient may be accompanied by one parent/guardian);  or,

    • The patient has a disability that requires them to have a caregiver or healthcare power of attorney.

  • No one under the age of 18 is allowed in the office unless that person is a patient. However, patients may continue to bring their infant/toddler in a carrier or stroller. For everyone’s continued safety, our staff will not be responsible for holding or caring for an infant that is not in a carrier.

 

As a reminder, the following will remain in effect until further notice. 
 

  • All patients and visitors will continue to be screened for COVID-19 upon arrival and with screening questions during our online check-in process. If the designated visitor has symptoms of COVID-19, has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days, or has been exposed to anyone with COVID-19 in the last 10 days, then they will not be allowed to accompany the patient. Patients who do not pass COVID screening will also be rescheduled.

  • All patients and visitors must wear a well-fitting mask over their mouth and nose while they are in our office. 

  • All patients and visitors should practice social distancing while in our office by standing and sitting 6 feet apart. Our lobby chairs are clearly marked with available seating. You may also wait in your car, if you prefer, however please have a working cell phone with you so we can contact you when staff is ready to escort you to your exam room. 

  • If you are sick (fever, cough, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste/smell), DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Call our office or your primary care provider for recommendations. 

  • If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 10 days, DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Please call our office at (252) 443-5941 first for recommendations.

May 12, 2021

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Due to continued improvement in the rates of COVID-19 in our community, our office will be making the following changes to our visitor policy: 
 

•    Patients may bring 1 healthy adult (age 18 or older) to any appointment. To ensure we maintain proper social distancing in our lobby and waiting areas, we do ask that you come alone whenever possible. 

•    If you are alone during your appointment or ultrasound, then you may call or Facetime with a support person during your visit. To ensure patient privacy, we ask that you only use your phone in a private exam room and not where other patients are nearby. Please discuss this with a nurse or provider before using your phone. 

•    No children are allowed at this time, but patients may continue to bring their infant in a carrier. For everyone’s continued safety, our staff will not be responsible for holding or caring for an infant that is not in a carrier.


As a reminder, the following will remain in effect until further notice. 
 

•    All patients and visitors will continue to be screened for COVID-19 upon arrival and with screening questions during our online check-in process. 

•    All patients and visitors must wear a well-fitting mask over their mouth and nose while they are in our office. 

•    All patients should practice social distancing while in our office by standing and sitting 6 feet apart. Our lobby chairs are clearly marked with available seating. You may also wait in your car, if you prefer, however please have a working cell phone with you so we can contact you when staff is ready to escort you to your exam room. 

•    If you are sick (fever, cough, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste/smell), DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Call our office or your primary care provider for recommendations. 

•    If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 10 days, DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Please call our office at (252) 443-5941 first for recommendations.
 

Thank you for your continued understanding and patience. 
 

April 19, 2021

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We understand that there may be times when patients will not have childcare for their infant or may be breastfeeding and can’t be away from their infant for an extended period of time. Therefore, effective immediately, our office will be making the following adjustments to our visitor policy:
 

•    Patients may bring their infant with them to any type of appointment, however the infant MUST be in a carrier. 
 
As stated previously, for everyone’s continued safety, our staff will not be responsible for holding or caring for an infant that is not in a carrier. 
 
These changes do not allow any other children other than the infant in a carrier to attend any other types of appointments. 
 
All other visitor policies will remain in effect. 
 

We hope to continue to make changes to our visitor policy, so we do encourage you to check here frequently for updates. Thank you, as always, for your continued patience and understanding.
 

April 13, 2021

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Effective immediately, our office will be implementing the following visitor policy changes:

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•    Postpartum mothers may bring their newborn with them to their 6-week postpartum appointment only. 
•    Postpartum mothers who are having a breastfeeding problem, may bring the newborn who is breastfeeding with her to the appointment.  

 

The newborn must be in a carrier. For everyone’s continued safety, our staff will not be responsible for holding or caring for an infant that is not in a carrier. 
 

Please note, also, that these changes do not allow any other children other than the newborn to come to the postpartum appointment and no children will be allowed at any other types of appointments. 
 

All other visitor policies as stated here on April 1, 2021 will remain in effect. 


Thank you for your continued patience and understanding. 

April 1, 2021

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Due to the recent improvement in the COVID-19 infection rates in North Carolina, our office is making the following changes to our visitor restrictions. 
 

Beginning on April 1st, patients may bring one support person (age 18 or older) with them for their routine early dating ultrasound (~8-10 weeks) and the anatomy ultrasound (18-20 weeks) only. All visitors must pass all COVID-19 screening at the time of arrival. If the designated visitor has symptoms of COVID-19 or has been exposed to anyone with COVID-19 in the last 10 days, then they will not be allowed to accompany the patient. 


Please note that this change is dependent upon continued improvement in COVID-19 infection rates and is subject to change should the infection rate begin to rise. 
 

The following policies will continue to remain in place until further notice:
 

  • Visitors/Family Members are not allowed at any other visit other than those mentioned previously unless the patient herself is a minor child. The minor patient may be accompanied by one parent/guardian. No one under the age of 18 is allowed in the office unless that person is a patient. If you bring your child to your appointment, then you may be asked to reschedule. 

  • All patients (and visitors) will continue to be screened for COVID-19 upon arrival and with screening questions during our online check-in process. 

  • All patients and visitors must wear a well-fitting mask over their mouth and nose while they are in our office. 

  • All patients should practice social distancing while in our office by standing and sitting 6 feet apart. Our lobby chairs are clearly marked with available seating. You may also wait in your car, if you prefer, however please have a working cell phone with you so we can contact you when staff is ready to escort you to your exam room. 

  • If you are sick (fever, cough, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste/smell), DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Call our office or your primary care provider for recommendations. 

  • If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 10 days, DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Please call our office first for recommendations.  

  • Telemedicine/Telehealth visits will continue to be offered for some appointment types. Please ask our staff about this option if you prefer not to come in to the office. 

 

Thank you for your understanding as we work to protect the health and safety of our community, patients, physicians, and staff. 

August 26, 2020

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Since 5pm on June 26th, 2020, the state of North Carolina has required that all citizens wear cloth masks over their nose and mouth when in public places where physical distancing is not possible. Since that time, and in compliance with that mandate, our office has required that all staff, physicians, and patients wear a cloth face covering or mask while in our office.   That policy and those outlined below will continue INDEFINITELY:  ​

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  • No visitors/family members will be allowed to accompany the patient. If the patient is a minor, then 1 parent or authorized caregiver may accompany the patient.

  • All patients will be asked screening questions and have their temperature taken before entering the office.

  • If you are sick (fever, cough, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste/smell), DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Call our office or your primary care provider for recommendations.

  • If you have been tested for COVID-19 and do not yet have your results, please DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Call our office to reschedule your appointment.

  • If you have tested POSITIVE for COVID-19 in the last 14 days, DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Call our office first for recommendations.

  • All patients MUST wear a face covering/mask while in our office and we STRONGLY ENCOURAGE all patients to wear their OWN face covering (mask, bandanna, scarf). To conserve the supplies of personal protective equipment needed for office staff, we may not be able to provide patients with a mask. We reserve the right to ask a patient to reschedule their appointment if they do not have a face covering. We will be happy to discuss a telemedicine appointment with you.

  • All patients should practice social distancing while in our office. Those patients waiting in our lobby will be required to sit 6 feet apart from each other. We have marked chairs in our lobby with signs stating “DO NOT SIT HERE” to ensure patients maintain this distance. You may also wait in your car, if you prefer. While in your car, please have a working cell phone so that staff can call you when they are ready to escort you to your exam room. Should our lobby become overly crowded, then you may be required to sit in your car until your room is ready.

  • We are still strongly encouraging any patients age 65 and older or who have a medical condition that would make them high risk to wait to be seen for routine care. However, any patient with an urgent concern should contact our office for recommendations.

  • Telemedicine/Telehealth visits will continue to be offered for some appointment types. Please ask our staff about the telehealth option if your visit does not require an exam and you would prefer not to come to the office.

 

As always, any patient who has an urgent problem or concern, no matter their age, should still contact our office for recommendations and/or to schedule an appointment. 

​ 

Thank you for your continued understanding.

June 23, 2020

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With the increasing number of COVID-19 positive cases and hospitalizations in North Carolina, we have elected to continue the following office policies INDEFINITELY:  ​

​

  • In order to limit exposure to everyone, no visitors/family members will be allowed to accompany the patient, unless the patient is a minor child.

  • All patients will be asked screening questions and have their temperature taken before entering the office.

  • If you are sick (fever, cough, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste/smell), DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Call our office or your primary care provider for recommendations.

  • If you have been tested for COVID-19 and do not yet have your results, please DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Call our office to reschedule your appointment.

  • If you have tested POSITIVE for COVID-19 in the last 21 days, DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Call our office for recommendations.

  • We STRONGLY ENCOURAGE all patients to wear their own face covering (mask, bandanna, scarf) while in our office. To conserve the supplies of personal protective equipment needed for office staff, we will not be providing masks to all patients at this time. The only patients who will be receiving a mask, if they do not have their own, will be those scheduled for procedures and these masks will be provided by the clinical staff. Please do not ask the front desk for a mask. We reserve the right to ask a patient to reschedule their appointment if they do not have a face covering and the physician feels that one is needed.  

  • All patients should practice social distancing while in our office. Those patients waiting in our lobby will be required to sit 6 feet apart from each other. You may also wait in your car, if you prefer. While in your car, please have a working cell phone so that staff can call you when they are ready to escort you to your exam room. Should our lobby become overly crowded, then you may be required to sit in your car until your room is ready.

  • We are still strongly encouraging any patients age 65 and older to wait to be seen for routine care. However, any patient with an urgent concern should contact our office for recommendations.

  • Telemedicine/Telehealth visits will continue to be offered for some appointment types. Please ask our staff about the telehealth option if your visit does not require an exam and you would prefer not to come to the office.

 

Please be assured that any patient who has an urgent problem or concern, no matter their age, should still contact our office for recommendations and/or to schedule an appointment. 

​

We understand that the continuation of these policies may be upsetting. Please be assured that all decisions are made with the health and safety of our patients, physicians, and staff in mind.

 

Thank you for your continued understanding.  

May 28, 2020

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With the transition into Phase 2 of North Carolina’s reopening plan, we would like to provide our patients with an update on our office policies. 

​

We will be continuing the following recommendations/guidelines until AT LEAST July 1st: 

​

  • If you are sick (fever, cough, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste/smell), DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Call our office or your primary care provider for recommendations.

  • We strongly encourage all patients to wear their own face covering (mask, bandanna, scarf) while in our office. To conserve the supplies of protective equipment needed for office staff, we will not be providing masks to all patients at this time. The only patients who will be receiving a mask, if they do not have their own, will be those scheduled for procedures and these masks will be provided by the clinical staff. Please do not ask the front desk for a mask.

  • In order to limit exposure to everyone, no visitors/family members will be allowed to accompany the patient, unless the patient is a minor child.

  • All patients will complete a screening questionnaire and have their temperature taken before entering the office.

  • All patients should practice social distancing while in our office. Those patients waiting in our lobby will be required to sit 6 feet apart from each other. You may also wait in your car, if you prefer. While in your car, please have a working cell phone so that staff can call you when they are ready to escort you to your exam room. Should our lobby become overly crowded, then you may be required to sit in your car until your room is ready.

  • We are still strongly encouraging any patients age 65 and older to wait until after July 1st to be seen for routine care. However, any patient with an urgent concern should contact our office for recommendations.

  • Telemedicine/Telehealth visits will continue to be offered for some appointment types. Please ask our staff about the telehealth option if your visit does not require an exam and you would prefer not to come to the office.

 

Please be assured that any patient who has an urgent problem or concern, no matter their age, should still contact our office for recommendations and/or to schedule an appointment. 

​

Our staff and physicians would like to thank all our patients, again, for their understanding and patience during this time. We have been and will continue to take every precaution to ensure your health, safety, and well-being. 

May 7, 2020

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We are happy to inform you that beginning on Monday, May 11th, our office will begin seeing a limited number of routine annual exams. The patients who had yearly exams rescheduled from March and April are currently being contacted by our staff to schedule an appointment sooner if they would like. If you have not yet been contacted and would like to be seen sooner, then please call the office to speak with our appointment scheduling staff so that we may reschedule your appointment.

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Any patient with urgent problems or concerns, no matter their age, should still contact our office for recommendations and/or to schedule an appointment. We are continuing to offer Telehealth visits for certain appointment types. Please ask our staff about the telehealth option if your visit does not require an exam and you would prefer not to come to the office.

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In an effort to ensure everyone’s safety, we will be asking that all patients continue to follow these guidelines/recommendations until further notice:

​

  • If you are sick (fever, cough, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste/smell), DO NOT COME TO THE OFFICE. Call our office or your primary care provider for recommendations.

  • We support and encourage all patients to wear their own face covering (mask, bandanna, scarf) while in our office. In an effort to conserve the supplies of protective equipment needed for office staff, we will not be providing masks to all patients at this time. The only patients who will be receiving a mask, if they do not have their own, will be those scheduled for procedures and these masks will be provided by the clinical staff. Please do not ask the front desk for a mask.

  • All patients waiting in our lobby will be required to sit 6 feet apart from each other. You may also wait in your car, if you prefer. Should you choose to wait in your car, then you must have a cell phone with you that we can call when staff are ready to escort you to your room. Should our lobby become overly crowded, then you may be required to sit in your car until your room is ready.

  • We are still strongly encouraging any patients age 65 and older to wait until after July 1st to be seen for routine care. However, any patient with an urgent concern should contact our office for recommendations.

  • In order to limit exposure to everyone, no visitors/family members will be allowed to accompany the patient, unless the patient is a minor child.

  • All patients will be asked screening questions and have their temperature taken before entering the office.

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We understand everyone’s concerns during this time and would like to assure everyone that we are taking every precaution to ensure the health and well-being of our patients, staff and physicians. Thank you.

April 14, 2020

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Our office will be extending our appointment and visitor restrictions through at least May 15th pending further recommendations from state and local public health officials.

 

We will not be seeing patients for routine annual exams during that time. We have already been contacting patients who have routine annual exams scheduled in April and we will soon begin contacting our patients with annual exams scheduled between May 1st and May 15th. Our staff will recommend that the appointment be rescheduled for after July 1st.

 

The following will also remain in place during this time:

  • No visitors/family members will be allowed to accompany the patient for her appointment, unless the patient is a minor child.

  • All patients will be screened for COVID-19 and have their temperature taken before entering the office. Should the patient have a fever, she may be asked to reschedule her appointment.

  • Patients age 65 and over will be encouraged to reschedule any non-urgent appointments until at least July 1st.

  • Gynecologic patients with urgent problems will continue to be seen in the office. Please call the office if you have a questions or concern.

  • All obstetric patients will continue to be seen in the office for routine care and urgent problems.  

  • If at any time you choose to reschedule an appointment due to concerns about COVID-19, we will be happy to assist you with any necessary prescription refills until you are able to reschedule and/or offer a telemedicine visit with one of our physicians.

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Patients with fever, cough, shortness of breath, flu or cold-like symptoms should STAY HOME and call the office to speak with a nurse. Please DO NOT come to the office.

 

If you have concerns about possible exposure to COVID-19, please contact your primary care doctor or local health department for recommendations. You may also go to www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus for up to date information.

 

Thank you all for your continued patience and understanding during this time.

MARCH 30, 2020

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Due to the continued spread of COVID-19 in our community, effective immediately, our providers will no longer be seeing routine annual exams in the office. If you have a routine gynecologic exam scheduled between March 31st and April 30th, we will be cancelling your appointment and contacting you to reschedule.  We recommend rescheduling your appointment after July 1st.

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We will continue to see gynecologic patients for urgent problems and obstetric patients for routine care. We request that patients come alone for their appointment; no visitors/family members will be allowed in the office.

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If you are in need of a prescription refill, please contact the office and we will be happy to provide you with refills until you able to be seen.

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If you have any questions about your appointment or if you have an urgent problem, please call the office at (252) 443-5941 and we will be happy to assist you.

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We understand that this may be inconvenient, however we feel that it is in the best interest of our patients, providers and staff. Please be assured that should our appointment policy change, we will do our best to modify our office schedule to ensure that all patients who were rescheduled during this time are contacted and seen in a timely manner.

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If you have concerns about possible exposure to COVID-19, please contact your primary care doctor or local health department for recommendations. You may also go to www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus for up to date information.

MARCH 24, 2020

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The health, safety, and well-being of our patients, providers, and staff continues to be our highest priority. As a result of the continued spread of Coronavirus/COVID-19 in our community, we have decided to implement the following changes, effective immediately.

 

  • Absolutely no visitors/family members will be allowed to accompany the patient. Patients should come alone without children or partners. Only if the patient is a minor, will the parent/guardian be allowed to attend.

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  • Gynecology patients:

    • It is strongly recommended that patients age 65 and over reschedule their routine preventative care visits. We will contact you to discuss rescheduling. 

    • Should any gynecology patient wish to reschedule a non-urgent visit, we will gladly do so and provide any necessary prescription refills through our triage line and patient portal.

    • We encourage patients with urgent needs to continue to be seen. Contact the office if you have questions about your appointment.

    • Any gynecology appointment that is cancelled will not be rescheduled until after July 1st.

 

  • Obstetric patients:

    • We encourage obstetric patients to continue routine prenatal care, however the number of recommended routine visits has been reduced (see Prenatal Visits chart – this is attached)

    • Pregnant patients with urgent needs and/or who are high-risk will continue to be seen for all scheduled visits.

 

Patients with fever, cough, shortness of breath, flu or cold-like symptoms should STAY HOME and call the office to speak with a nurse. Please DO NOT come to the office.

 

Before entering the office, all patients will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and have their temperature taken. Should you be found to have a fever, you may be asked to reschedule your appointment and/or return to your car for further evaluation by a nurse/provider. Expect some delays during this process.

 

We understand that these additional changes may be upsetting. Please know that these decisions were not made lightly, however we must do what is necessary to protect our patients, their families, and ourselves from exposure to this virus.

 

Thank you again for your continued understanding and patience.

MARCH 16, 2020

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Due to the spread of the novel Coronavirus / COVID-19 in North Carolina and the recommendations of the CDC, our office has implemented the following patient scheduling guidelines until further notice:

 

  • Only 1 family member will be allowed to accompany patients for their appointments.

  • No one under the age of 18 is allowed in the office unless they have a scheduled appointment.

  • Patients age 65 and older will be seen only for urgent visits; routine visits will be rescheduled. 

 

If you exhibit the following symptoms – fever, cough, shortness of breath, flu or cold-like symptoms – call the office and speak with a nurse. DO NOT come to the office. If you are concerned that you may have COVID-19 or that you may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19, you may call the following phone numbers for evaluation and counseling on testing:

​

 

We understand that this may pose a burden to find child care for some patients and limiting guests can be disappointing for some. These are extraordinary times and we are hopeful that you have understanding in these measures. If we don’t take measures and if COVID-19 were to become wide spread in our community and or office, we would have to potentially seriously limit our ability to care for our patients.

 

Thank you for your understanding and patience. 

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