We require that all patients who come to the office wear a mask or some sort of face covering that covers the mouth and nose. This helps protect our patients and our staff and helps minimize the spread of the virus. 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/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

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, headache, nausea or diarrhea. Symptoms typically appear 2-14 days after exposure. PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO MORE TESTING, IT IS TAKING AT LEAST A WEEK TO GET TEST RESULTS BACK. If you have symptoms or have had an exposure and we test you for SARS-CoV (the virus that causes COVID), you MUST quarantine at least until the test results are back and potentially longer depending on your symptoms and level of exposure. Please see our isolation/quarantine guidelines for anyone awaiting test results or with exposure to a COVID patient.

You can also get tested through the local Health Department and various other sites. Please see the NCDHHS website to find a testing site:
https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-my-testing-place

If you have any possible COVID symptoms, you will be seeing our on call physician and will use the side urgent care/emergency entrance. As you face the main entrance to the office, the side entrance is around to the right. There are a few parking spots available there. 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.

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.

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, which is especially helpful for those of you who are very high risk. If you need labs, we can place an order for you to come another day for labs only. 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.

We have enhanced our cleaning practices and we are disinfecting exam rooms after every patient.