Mary 5, 2020: Staying Well Tips for Routine Medical Care during COVID-19
Staying Well During COVID-19: Routine Medical Care
As communities across the country take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 by social distancing, you might be facing new challenges or have questions about best practices for obtaining routine medical care and medications. Below are tips on how to meet your medical care and prescription needs in a safe and healthy manner.
ROUTINE MEDICAL CARE
Telemedicine visits with your doctor or other medical provider are the preferred method of contact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reach out to your medical provider to determine if telemedicine options are available. If you need to see your doctor or need medical care for any non-urgent matters, call ahead to determine updated protocols in response to COVID-19. Follow these recommendations to help protect yourself:
- Wear a cloth face covering (reference the CDC for how to make Homemade Cloth Face Coverings).
- Do not touch your eyes, mouth, or nose.
- Use disinfecting wipes on frequently touched surfaces such as handles, knobs, and touchpads.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others while inside and in lines.
- When paying, use touchless payment methods if possible. If you cannot use touchless payment, sanitize your hands after paying. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.
You can also talk to your doctor about rescheduling procedures that are not urgent.
Visit the CDC website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Contact GPA if you need help locating a provider or telehealth provider.
PRESCRIPTIONS
Plan ahead and if possible, order all of your prescriptions at the same time. Use drive-through windows and curbside services, wait in your car until the prescription is ready, or use mail-order or other delivery services. Do the same for pet medications as well. Check with your doctor and pharmacist to see if you can get a larger supply of your medicines to limit visits to the pharmacy.
