At Newton Family Physicians, our first priority is your health. During this uncertain time,
we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and keeping up
with the recommendations and guidelines of local health officials and the CDC.
We have implemented a number of new procedures and we are constantly reassessing and adjusting our practices.
This has been updated on Wednesday, May 20th.
We are now requiring that all patients who come to the office in person wear a mask or some sort of face covering.
This helps protect our patients and our staff. We do not have enough masks here to give to each of our patients.
You can easily make a mask or wear a bandana or scarf. Please see this link to the CDC regarding face coverings:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/DIY-cloth-face-covering-instructions.pdf
We continue to offer virtual visits during regular office hours via telemedicine for many types of appointments during the pandemic. You can get most medications refilled or be seen for many acute sick visits without having to come in person. Please call the office during regular office hours to schedule a telemedicine visit. You just need a computer, tablet/iPad or a smart phone. These visits allow us to provide the best care remotely and allows the patient to communicate directly with a provider while keeping everyone as safe as possible.
The goal of the public health strategy is to reduce spread and exposure. We do offer COVID 19 testing here for our patients. The guidelines currently suggest testing patients in whom COVID is suspected. Typically this means patients with cough, fever, chills, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle pain, new loss of taste or smell, or diarrhea. Symptoms typically appear 2-14 days after exposure.
Please see the attached isolation/quarantine guidelines for anyone awaiting test results or with exposure to a COVID patient.
In order to limit time spent in close contact with other people, we have closed our waiting room and have implemented smart phone check in. When you make your appointment, you will get a text with a link. After you arrive at the office, please click on this link to let us know you are here. PLEASE STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE. You will get a text when your room is ready and a nurse will meet you at the door to escort you into the building. If we are running behind, the nurse will try to communicate with you while you wait via text. If you have arrived and aren’t sure the link worked, please call to let us know you are here.
We request that you come alone when you are able or bring no more than 1 other person to the visit with you.
We will be screening everyone upon entering the building by checking temperatures. If you (or someone you are with) has a temperature over 100, we will assist you in making a sick visit appointment to be seen as soon as possible with our on call doctor and ask you to enter through the side urgent care entrance. You will still wait in your car until your room is ready.
When we interact with patients who could potentially have COVID-19, we are using personal protective equipment such as N-95 masks, gloves, gowns and face shields. We are wearing surgical masks while seeing all patients.
We have enhanced our cleaning practices and we are disinfecting exam rooms after every patient.
We encourage all of our patients to limit their exposure with good hygiene and practice social distancing. Please stay home as much as possible and wear a mask when you are out in public.