Coronavirus (Covid-19) Updates from Dr. Whitney

Posted on March 16, 2020 | Posted by

We are experiencing an unprecedented situation with the Coronavirus, so in order to keep you informed and minimize your risk, the RHS team will continue to provide regular updates as more information becomes available.

RHS updates and protocols:
We have requested but have not yet received testing kits. It has been published that there is a significant shortage of these kits. However, we have been informed by both Quest and Lab Corp that they are on the way. I will inform you as soon as they arrive.

Our testing capability is going to be extremely limited. Our hope is that there will be publicly available drive-through testing available, supported by the government. In an ideal world, everyone with an upper respiratory infection would be tested. However, there is still uncertainty on if, or when this will happen. We will certainly support our patients with tests to the best of our ability.

Also, you’ve probably heard that Bucks County has been ordered to close all non-essential businesses. We are obviously essential so will be open for our usual hours between 830–430, Monday thru Friday.

That being said, we believe that social distancing is extremely important for all citizens and we will take measures that incorporate this guidance to protect our team and you, our patient,

  • In order to keep you safe, we will ensure that no RHS Team member will come to work if they are sick.
  • We will conduct as many visits as possible via telemedicine or phone call. If you have illness concerns, we encourage you to call in and share your symptoms with Haley or our new medical assistant Amy. We will give you guidance on the best course of action.
  •  If a high-risk individual requires an in-person visit, all RHS team members will wear a mask just in case we happen to be a carrier of the virus, but don’t show symptoms.
  • We will regularly disinfect the office surpassing our already high cleanliness standards.

I may need to see people who exhibit upper respiratory illnesses to determine whether they need more aggressive treatment or should go to the hospital. We have converted a section of our office into our “Coronavirus room“ and will have you enter through the back door to be seen there, thus minimizing exposure to the rest of the office. You will be given a mask to wear before coming through the back door.

Current recommendations:

  • Assume coronavirus is everywhere. Consider using saline nasal spray 2-4 times daily.  The virus incubates in our nose, and this will give your immune system a better chance to fight it.
  • If you get sick, don’t panic even if you are high risk. Most upper respiratory infections are not coronavirus and will pass.
  • If you are high risk, isolate yourself as much as possible. If possible, ask low risk family members go to the grocery store for you.  Before entering, they should thoroughly wash their hands.
  • If you get sick, immediately quarantine yourself, including from household members. Keep a distance of 6 feet.
  • Once widespread testing becomes available, get yourself tested if you become sick. Until that time we’re going to have to do the best we can.  For now, I will not be able to test everyone who exhibits symptoms.
  • If you get sick, but cannot be tested, I highly encourage you to avoid contaminating high risk individuals for a full 14 days even if your health improves sooner.
  • If you are not sick, but you have been exposed to someone who is sick or was exposed to coronavirus, avoid contact with high risk individuals.  It has been determined that a subset of people carry the virus, yet don’t exhibit symptoms.  Definitely use saline nasal spray>
  • Unfortunately, now that coronavirus is so widespread, many of us could have been exposed unknowingly. Therefore, the best practice is to avoid contact with high risk individuals, at least until we have a better grasp of the situation.
  • If you get sick, treat yourself as you would for any similar viral illness, using OTC medications, eat healthy, and ensure you get good sleep -which is the most important element of boosting your immune system.

If you have concerns that are not addressed in the previous guidelines, or if you think you need to be seen or go to the hospital, PLEASE CALL. Call the office during business hours or call me personally after hours. We are experiencing high call volume. So please leave a message with your concern and level of urgency and we will respond as soon as we can.

Lastly, please get the word out that the schools are not closing in a “snow day” like manner.  Young people who are at low risk need to minimize their socialization for the greater good of public health.  Perhaps this is a great opportunity for families to reconnect!