Frequently Asked Questions

In our Frequently Asked Questions section, we have tried to help answer several of the most commonly asked questions that our practices receive. If you have additional questions or would like more information about your specific practice, please call your respective office.

Is the practice/clinic clean and safe?
What steps are you taking to maintain a clean and safe environment?
Do you have the supplies and staff to accommodate my office visit?
How do I prepare for my office visit?
Will my experience be the same as in the past?
What should I expect during my office visit?
Can my spouse/family member/friend/caregiver come with me to the clinic?
Can my child come with me to the clinic?
What happens when I arrive for my appointment?
What question will I be asked during the screening?
Am I required to sit in the waiting area until my appointment?
Can I schedule a telehealth visit instead of an in-office visit?
If I have additional questions about my visit, who should I contact?

Is the practice/clinic clean and safe?

Yes. Our practices and clinics are clean, and it is safe to seek care at our office. One of the core elements of properly managing infectious diseases is the cleanliness of our facilities, and we disinfect ALL equipment, reception and waiting areas, exam rooms, restrooms, chairs, door handles and other hard surfaces regularly through the day. We continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for cleaning and disinfection of our facilities.

What steps are you taking to maintain a clean and safe office environment?

Our practice screens all patients in accordance with CDC screening guidelines for COVID-19. See page 3 with screening details. Patients are asked to call before arrival if experiencing potential COVID-19 symptoms.
All patients and caregivers are screened upon arrival and will be asked to wear a mask. You are encouraged to bring your own mask or face covering from home to cover your mouth and nose during your visit.
Tissues and alcohol-based hand sanitizer are accessible throughout the clinic.
We have discontinued use of and removed toys, magazines, brochures, TV remote controls and other shared items from the waiting area and exam rooms.
In between appointments and throughout the day, we wipe down and disinfect ALL equipment, reception and waiting areas, exam rooms, restrooms, chairs, door handles and other hard surfaces.
To promote social distancing, we have reorganized our waiting areas to separate chairs 6 feet apart/block use of certain chairs and marked the floors to visually assist with separation.

Do you have the supplies and staff to accommodate my office visit?

We continue to monitor crucial supplies closely, such as PPE and medications, and have adequate staffing to ensure that we can safely provide in-person appointments for our patients.

How do I prepare for my office visit?

Our staff will call in advance to pre-screen you for potential COVID-19 symptoms. You are encouraged to bring your own cloth mask or face covering from home to cover your mouth and nose during your visit. If you are experiencing symptoms or think you may have COVID-19, it is important to call ahead before your arrival so our staff can prepare in advance.

Will my experience be the same as in the past?

Your experience in our office may look a little different than in the past, but this is because we have new processes and procedures in place to further protect your health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What should I expect during my office visit?

Upon arrival at the facility, you will be asked the standard COVID-19 screening questions and asked to wear the cloth mask or face covering you brought from home to cover your nose and mouth.

Our clinics continue to limit visitors out of an abundance of caution, so your family member/spouse/friend/caregiver will be required to stay in the car during your appointment. One parent will be allowed per pediatric patient.

You may see fewer patients while you are here, and that is intentional for now. We are currently spacing out appointment times in an effort to promote social distancing, conserve resources and protect the safety of all of our patients and employees.

Our care team may conduct your entire appointment or exam while wearing protective equipment, which may hinder your ability to see their faces. We do regret this, as the personal connections we have with our patients and community are what keep us going. However, this is an important precaution we are taking to protect you and our clinical staff.

Can my spouse/family member/friend/caregiver come with me to the clinic?

Companions are limited to essential caregivers or one parent per pediatric patient, and the caregiver and/or parent must be screened and wear a mask. If the companion is needed for transportation only and is not an essential caregiver, we ask that they wait in their personal vehicle.

Can my child come with me to the clinic?

Children are not permitted to accompany patients to appointments. Children are only permitted in the practices if he/she is the patient. While we understand this may pose an inconvenience, this restriction is intended for the child’s safety and wellbeing.

What happens when I arrive for my appointment?

When you arrive at the office, you will be asked the COVID-19 screening questions and asked to wear a mask. You are encouraged to bring your own cloth mask or face covering from home to cover your mouth and nose during your visit.

What questions will I be asked during the screening?

The questions are part of our standard COVID-19 screening process and include asking if you have…

Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

Fever
Chills
Repeated shaking with chills
Muscle pain
Headache
Sore throat

Whenever you are asked, please answer these screening questions honestly. If your office visit has to be postponed, it will be just that: postponed. It does NOT mean it will be canceled, and we will work with you to reschedule as soon as possible.

Am I required to sit in the waiting area until my appointment?

Patients have the ability to check in for their appointment via phone/text and may wait in their car until this appointment, if medically appropriate. Our staff can call/text when your exam room is available.

Can I schedule a telehealth visit instead of an in-office visit?

We continue to offer telehealth visits at this time. Patients can request a telehealth visit by calling their provider’s office, just as they would for an in-person visit. The provider will determine if a telehealth visit is appropriate based on the patient’s health condition. If the virtual visit is deemed clinically appropriate, the patient will be given an appointment time and instructions for the best way to connect, given the available platforms. Then, instead of coming to the office, he or she would call back at the scheduled time and be “checked in” by a nurse or office manager, and then transferred to the provider for the call or two-way video.

If I have additional questions about my visit, who should I contact?

If you have any questions, please call your provider’s office.

Go to St. Francis Hospital

706.596.4000

St. Francis Medical Group