Here I am sitting at my desk doing a telehealth visit. I can look directly at the patient, and discuss whatever we need to discuss, and yet I can still also visualize the patient without them having to come in. I also have direct access to their chart as well to review and update, and discuss whatever questions our patients may have. In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to become creative on how we can still keep taking care of our patients, and yet limit both our patients exposure, and our staff’s exposure to this virus. The telehealth visit also provides a means of triage to help us determine if someone is truly sick enough that they would have to come in and be seen in person. Brown Clinic is continuously changing our protocols on how we are adapting to this pandemic. We have never seen anything like this before, so it is not like we can just do everything in a day. We keep adapting to what works, and what does not.
Every patient coming into the clinic is triaged at the door. All staff is triaged at the door when they come in as well. One of our staff will be masked, gowned, and wearing a face shield as well. (My nurse here had just taken off her shield and gown, so I did not make her put it back on for the sake of the picture!) But she has a skin thermometer to take your temperature, and is holding stickers that is placed on the staff, and the patients, triaging them according to symptoms. For our staff, if they are sick, they are going to be seen immediately, and then sent home as well. For patients entering the clinic, this screening is done as soon as they walk in the door. This also serves as a factor as to whether the patient is gong to have to wear a mask, and whether they will need to be taken directly to a room to be away from everybody else. So if you are truly not sick enough, avoid coming into the clinic. We can also help determine if you should be coming in by doing a telehealth visit as well.
The staff at the clinic are wearing masks for every patient regardless of what they are seen for. Depending on the triage protocols, we then decide if we need to gown up, and wear face shields as well. Anything we can do to avoid unnecessary visits into the clinic is being done. We have also instituted drive up lab draws to still be taking care of all of the other health issues that we need to deal with daily as well, not just that related to COVID-19. We are encouraging people if they are sick, to get a hold of us at the clinic first, and set up a telehealth visit, whether by video, or telephone, and be taken care of this way first. The amount of information that we can get by these visits is incredible, and we can still take care of you, and at the same time limit both our patients, and our staff’s, exposure. People who thought they could never do this before are finding out that it is really pretty simple, and we will help walk you through every step of it in an attempt to take care of you. Our hours at Brown Clinic, just like many other facilities, have changed from 7:30-5:00 PM every day, Monday through Friday, but we have the capability and opportunity to create a telehealth visit, in one way or another, 24/7, 7 days a week. Our previous convenience care hours from 5-7 PM are staffed with more people as well to handle any increased telehealth visits as well. We are still available this way continuously, just we always have been, but in a way that limits exposure to everybody involved.
You can get a hold of us with this number, and in particular, after hours, hit option “0” and we will help you through the rest of it! Be safe. Be smart. Utilize this service as a means to be taken care of. This is consistent with our mission statement as well: “To provide quality and compassionate health care.” We are committed to continuous improvement…because that is the kind of care you expect from Brown Clinic–the people you know and trust. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day on New Streak: #385
