COVID-19 Safety

The COVID-19 pandemic quickly showed that medical practices need to be able to adapt to keep their patients safe.  From the addition of telemedicine capabilities to enhanced safety protocols, offices across the city have shown their commitment to keeping patients safe.  At New York Medicine Doctors, we’d like to provide some information about what has been done to help patients, and how we’re handling this new virus.

What Have We Been Doing To Protect Patients And Staff? 

We want our patients to know that we have taken COVID-19 very seriously.  We have done everything in our power to protect both patients and staff from contracting the virus when visiting our facility.  Below are examples of what we’ve done in recent months to flatten the curve and combat the spread:

  • Allow patients to virtually check-in to their appointments so they can spend less time in our waiting rooms.
  • Started offering telemedicine sessions when possible to allow patients to receive care without ever needing to leave their home.
  • Followed OSHA-standards of cleaning and disinfecting our office.
  • Continuously monitoring the health of our staff to ensure they are not coming to work while they are sick.

How Are We Asking Patients To Help?

While we have been putting meticulous effort into stopping the spread of COVID-19, protection during a global pandemic is a two way street.  We are asking our patients to also play an active role in mitigating the chances of anyone who steps into our office contracting the virus.  We ask the patients to follow the below steps for optimal protection:

  • Wearing a mask for the entirety of the visit unless instructed otherwise.
  • Maintaining social distancing when in the waiting room and walking throughout the facility.
  • Utilize the hand sanitizing stations that are found throughout our office.

Do We Provide COVID-19 Testing?

With so much still unknown about the COVID-19 virus, patients need to do everything in their power to keep themselves protected.  From a city and statewide standpoint, the best way to do this is through testing.  That is why our team at New York Medicine Doctors is happy to announce that we now offer antibody testing in our facility.

 

Learn more here.

How Are Antibody Tested For?

Testing positive for COVID-19 antibodies shows not only that you were infected, but that you’ve already beaten the disease.  This can provide hope of avoiding future infections, and also gives you the opportunity to donate plasma in hopes of finding proven therapeutics.  The COVID-19 antibody tests involve taking blood to detect the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies.

Who Is Eligible For Antibody Testing?

COVID-19 antibody can be used to show when the virus has been eliminated from your body.  That is why even before you receive the results, if you have tested positive for the disease or believe you have been showing symptoms, you should self-isolate for 14 days.  When it comes to getting the antibody test, it is professionally recommended to do so on patients 5 days after the onset of their symptoms, or 7 to 10 days after testing positive for the virus.