To ensure the safety of our patients during COVID-19, we are asking for your cooperation in limiting your exposure to the general public.
Our office adheres to the recommendations outlined by the SF Department of Public Health
Guests: At this time, we are asking no more than one support person attend your visits with you. They may be asked to wait outside of our waiting room, if proper distancing cannot be maintained.
How to reduce the risk of getting sick and spreading disease:
- Wear a mask.
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizers containing alcohol may be used where soap and water is not available.
- Cover cough and sneeze with arm, not hand.
- Avoid touching your face
- Avoid crowded places, closed spaces, and close contact settings, whenever possible
- Maintain social distancing (stay 6 feet apart)
For additional information, visit the CDC’s website for COVID-19 up to date resources.
Here is some guidance on the current recommendations for common questions regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19).
In an effort to keep our phone lines clear for patients with urgent medical issues, we hope that this information will answer many of your questions and provide guidance on when to call for medical evaluation. It is a community wide goal to avoid rapid spread of the virus; for that reason, patients are advised NOT to come into the office for evaluation of mild flu-like symptoms (cough, sore throat, headache, malaise).
Please call to reschedule if you have mild symptoms and refer to this bulletin for additional guidance. We always want you to call if you are worried that you are significantly ill, but we are currently inundated with phone calls for minor symptoms and travel related questions; we are trying to offset that so that your urgent calls can be addressed in a timely manner.
As always, if you are concerned that you are having an acute medical emergency, call 9-1-1.
If you have a fever greater than 100.3 F and/or significant respiratory issues (shortness of breath, persistent deep cough, difficulty breathing), call the office for direction on where to go for an evaluation. We will take your information, notify our emergency room, and then advise you to proceed there for evaluation and treatment. If you are unable to reach us by phone, call the CPMC Emergency Room directly at 415-600-3333 for instructions; UCSF requires that you contact your Primary Care Provider for instructions. We empower you to call them directly for evaluation if your symptoms are as noted above.
If you have a fever and flu-like symptoms but no significant respiratory issues, then you are advised to stay home until symptoms resolve. If you have known exposure to a patient with confirmed Covid-19, you should notify us; we may need to notify the SF Department of Public Health. In situations highly suspicious for Covid-19, you should stay at home for 14 days (self-quarantine). Reschedule any non-urgent medical appointments. If respiratory issues subsequently develop, then call for evaluation and further instruction.
If you have a fever and flu-like symptoms and an urgent obstetrical issue (labor, rupture of membranes, decreased fetal movement, or other pregnancy issues), then call and notify us of both your flu-like symptoms and your obstetrical concern. We will then notify OB Reception/OB Triage in the hospital and advise you to proceed there for evaluation. If you cannot reach us by phone, then call OB Reception directly to notify them you are coming in: 415-600-2100.
If you are asymptomatic but have a known exposure to a person affected by Covid-19, it is recommended to self-quarantine for 14 days.
It is generally advised for the time being to minimize risk of exposure for yourself and the community with the following measures:
- Avoid public transportation
- Telecommute if possible
- Frequent and thorough hand washing, cover cough/sneeze with arm, avoid touching face
- Avoid unnecessary travel
- Avoid large gatherings
- Avoid sick contacts
- Stay home from work and keep children home from school if ill
Regarding Hospital Visitors
CPMC currently is limiting the total number of visitors to two adults per patient. No children under the age of 16 are being allowed to visit the hospital. Visitors will be screened for flu-like symptoms and will not be allowed to visit if they have symptoms. We recognize that this may be disappointing to some of you, but we appreciate your understanding in supporting us in trying to provide the safest environment for all patients within the medical system, yourself and your family included. UCSF will likely have similar restrictions, please plan accordingly.
At this time, the medical system is unable to provide testing for all patients with suspected Covid-19. That testing is being reserved for the highest risk patients (elderly, immunocompromised, patients with severe symptoms, patients with underlying chronic medical illness). It is not recommended to test patients with mild symptoms. We are not offering testing at this time.
