Our doctors, nurses, and staff entered the medical field to help people, both those in our community and any others who reach our clinic doors. The care that we provide looks different for everyone, and we are always adapting to meet the needs of those we serve. As our communities navigate COVID-19, we continue to be ready to treat our patients and to provide accurate and up-to-date information about this virus.
What is the treatment for COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a virus and therefore there is no medication that you can take in order to directly treat the illness. Some people may need supportive care to help them breathe. If we were to encounter a patient with COVID-19 who is not having breathing difficulties, we would send them home with symptomatic care, which would involve orders to rest, to drink plenty of fluids, to self-quarantine, and to call a local emergency room if they begin to have difficulty breathing.
Is COVID-19 testing available?
Yes, but because our treatment plan would not change regardless of the test results, the small supply of tests currently available are best used for those most at risk because of other conditions or situations. It is also worth noting that each person needs two negative results in order to be cleared because the test is not particularly accurate and that there is a 2-7 day turnaround for results.
What does it mean to “flatten the curve”?
Flattening the curve does not mean that with self-quarantine of the healthy population the virus will disappear. Instead, flattening the curve refers to slowing the spread of the virus over a longer period of time to allow health care professionals, resources, and research to catch up. Instead of hundreds of patients becoming sick in a single week, those patients would be spread out over multiple weeks or months, allowing more quality treatment.
Will Integrity Urgent Care remain open?
Our clinic and team is committed to staying open and treating patients of all types. There are still broken bones to be mended, upper respiratory and ear infections that need antibiotics, and runny noses that need observation. If we were to shift these patients to an ER at this time, we would be doing them and the health care industry a disservice, exposing patients to other illnesses and overwhelming the hospitals further.
How is Integrity Urgent Care responding?
We have begun doing triage at the front door to quickly identify those with potential COVID-19 symptoms to minimize exposure to others. Patients with flu-like symptoms will be treated in designated rooms or their cars to minimize contact with our other patients.
We also have implemented telemedicine visits! Patients who are unable to travel or would prefer to not travel to the clinic can still receive access to care through our telemedicine platform on their computer, tablet, or smartphone. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Tricare, Medicare, & United Healthcare Insurance for virtual visits. Self-pay is also available for $59. Visit www.integrityuc.com/virtual to register for your visit any day of the week.
At the end of the day, one of our continued concerns is the fact there are many other viruses and conditions that our medical team needs to treat. Our patients need continued care and we remain steadfast in providing that care for the communities we serve. We are honored to be trusted with such an important and vital task. Each of our area clinics is open from 8 am to 8 pm, every day of the week.
