OPEN AND READY TO SERVE OUR PATIENTS

TO OUR  PATIENTS

November 23, 2020

A message to our patients,

During this ongoing difficult time, as we continue to see COVID-19 cases rise around the country, including here at home, we would like you to know we continue to be here for you both in the office and virtually. Our priority is keeping you and your family healthy.

We would like to offer our guidance in keeping with the CDC and local health departments’ recommendations. We know everyone misses their loved ones, and Thanksgiving is a time of gathering, but this year please consider making adjustments to your traditional plans by limiting your gathering to those within your household and staying home instead of traveling.  Even a small gathering can carry some big risks. We recommend celebrating virtually with other family and friends. If you do decide to celebrate in person with people outside of your household, please take necessary precautions to try to minimize risk. This includes masking, social distancing, and hand washing. To help you with planning, the CDC offers suggestions for Thanksgiving celebrations.

In addition, if you are feeling ill and would like to get tested please see our website and Facebook page for links to the COVID-19 Mass. and RI test site locators.

Also, remember that it's not too late to get your flu shot, and we encourage you to do so.

This year's holiday season will be different. By working together, we can help slow or stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

Happy and healthy holidays,

 Family Medicine Associates of South Attleboro

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PRACTICE UPDATE:

We at FMA remain committed to keeping our patients as safe as possible during the ongoing pandemic. For this reason we cannot accept walk-ins. We are asking that everyone call the office before they need to come in for any reason (forms,appointments. etc.) in order to be screened. In addition, we are NOT doing COVID-19 testing at our office-if you have symptoms and/or wish to be tested please contact the office by phone or by portal and you will be directed accordingly. Thank you for your continued cooperation. 

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24-48 hrs. prior to your visit, you will be called by one of our staff to be “screened” for any COVID-19 symptoms and/or exposures.  If positive, those patients will then be asked to change their appointment to a telehealth visit. If you are coming into the office you will be asked to arrive 15 minutes early. You will then wait in your car until you are called by a staff member to come into the office to register. Upon arrival at the front desk you will have your temperature taken to be sure you are clear for your visit. Masks are still required for entry into either office and are to remain on for the entirety of your visit. In addition, we ask for a maximum of one support person for patients unable to visit alone.  We continue to try and keep our office as safe as possible for those coming in and thank you for your cooperation.

We are happy to start to see more of you in-person! That being said if you or your provider would feel more comfortable doing a telehealth visit, that is still an option at this time. If you are asked to change your visit to a telehealth visit and are otherwise healthy it is often because we are still trying to space out our in-office visits per Massachusetts Dept. of Health guidelines.

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As we have previously updated, we have RESUMED Saturday morning office hours for in-person same day sick visits.  Our office will remained closed on Sunday mornings and weekday evenings for in-person visits, but we will still be available for telehealth visits.  We thank you for your continued patience during this unprecedented time.  As always if you have any questions please just ask! 

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INFORMATION REGARDING TELEHEALTH:

The Health and Human Services Department and American Academy of Family Physicians has created some useful information on telehealth visits we would like to share with you.

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What is telehealth? Telehealth is a way to have medical care provided by your physician over video chat. Video chat is preferred because sometimes even if it doesn’t seem it, more can be gained by looking at you than just over the phone. Plus, we are all missing social interaction these days so it is a nice way to connect with your family doctor.

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How do I get a visit set up? A telehealth visit can be scheduled by calling the office or contacting your provider through the portal. You may even be simply sent a link through text or email asking you to schedule a telehealth visit in response to a call or question you sent. FMA providers are using the doxy.me HIPPA compliant platform and you need only a smart phone or computer with microphone and camera to participate. In addition, you need to be in either Massachusetts or Rhode Island during the time of the visit.

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I don’t have a smart phone or microphone/camera on my computer- what do I do? In that case a telephone visit will be arranged if you are unable to come into the office.

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What kinds of visits can be done with telehealth? Any kind of medication follow-up visits as well as blood pressure and diabetes follow-up visits; anxiety/depression/mental health; sick visits for cough, breathing difficulties, sinus symptoms, rashes. In addition, if you are concerned you may have COVID-19 or would like to be tested, a telehealth visit can be arranged.

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Is this considered equivalent to an in-office visit? Yes. Just as an in-office visit is scheduled you will be given an appointment time. The link you will need can be found in the section below, to be used ONLY at your designated appointment time or when requested by your provider.

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Does it cost money? During the pandemic it is posted to your insurance company just as an in-office visit. You may be billed a copay – this will be determined by your insurance company.

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Do I need to do anything to prepare for this visit? We ask that if it is for a follow-up visit for your diabetes and/or blood pressure that you check your blood pressure and/or blood sugar just prior to the visit in order to report to your provider. If you are not able to do this, not to worry, your provider will still be able to check-in and discuss a plan with you. In addition, if you have a list of, or even the medication bottles you need to review, that will be helpful as well. It is important especially during this time that we make sure you are taking medications correctly and that follow-up visits do not get missed or forgotten. The healthier you are, the better able your body will be to fight COVID-19.