In these uncertain times we want to first extend our heartfelt thanks to our patients. We know many of you are frightened and unsettled. We know that you come to us looking for answers, and while we too have seen nothing like Covid-19 before, it is our aim to calm your fears and be as proactive and ambitious with your care as we possibly can. Thank you for your trust. Please know we are on the frontlines serving our area with the best information available.

We are undoubtedly in unprecedented times

We, all of us, are living through a global pandemic that is having tremendous effects on healthcare as a whole. Innova Primary Care is learning how to serve the public at large while maintaining integrity and keeping the most vulnerable safe. For our patients, we want you to stay safe. Here are ways to protect yourself and others from Covid-19 during the current healthcare crisis.

Practice social distancing

On a practical front, the best thing you can do at the moment is practice social distancing. With no concrete definition to work from, practicing social distancing can seem confusing. What is it? How do you know if you are doing it right? Hopefully, we can help clear some of this up for you.

First of all, why social distancing? Maybe you’ve seen #flattenthecurve. Here is a great graphic demonstrating what it means to “flatten the curve.” We want to slow down the spread of disease, and one of the most effective tools in our arsenal is the act of social distancing. The best way you can do this in the is to stay at least 6 feet away from others.

You can enact social distancing by choosing to work from home, stay home when possible, when you must leave your home keep a wide breadth (at least 6 feet) and use technology (video calls, texts, e-mail) to socially engage with others, etc.

The less contact you have, the better.

Rely on trusted news sources

Just take a glance at social media right now and you will quickly see a wild range of information being spread. Some of it is from trusted and valid sources while other articles are meant to incite fear and panic.

Where you go for your information matters! For the most up-to-date information about Covid-19 cases and protocols in the state of Alabama, please visit the Alabama Department of Public Health. You will find current statistics and information from the CDC here. Both of these sites provide the latest information and can be trusted. Please do not let viral videos and spam articles be your source for critical info.

We know that life cannot completely stop right now. While many of us are experiencing significant disruptions to our daily lives and learning to cope with a new normal, Innova is still here to provide care to our patients, but the way that we are going about this looks a little different now. Here’s what you need to know.

Yes. We are open. We are seeing patients in the office and we are here to serve you through telehealth and voice visits. In an effort to comply with social distancing and provide care, we encourage those of you who can, to schedule telehealth/voice visits rather than coming into the office. Prior to your scheduled appointment, someone from our office will contact you to go over these options. These options may be viable for those who in need of a sick visit as well. You can request this in your patient portal or by calling the office. We will respond as quickly as we can, but please know we are experiencing high volume at the moment. It may take longer than you are accustomed to.

Please keep your well-visit if at all possible

While telehealth and phone consults might feel new and unusual, they are the best resource we have at the moment. If you cancel your visit with us, we cannot reschedule at this time. Please keep your appointment if you can.

If at all possible, stay at home

For our patients who are high-risk from Covid-19 (those over the age of 60 and those with preexisting conditions including but not limited to heart disease, chronic kidney or liver disease, diabetes, lung disease, COPD, respiratory issues, immunosuppressed in any way) we strongly suggest you convert your in-office visit to a telehealth or voice appointment. If you choose to come to your appointment in person, please know we are doing all we can to keep you safe. If you are given a mask in the waiting room, please keep it on during the duration of your visit. Practice social distancing as best as you can.

Testing supplies for Covid-19 are in limited supply. We do have access to testing kits but must be judicious in how we use them. We are following the guidelines from the CDC on who test. Please know that if you ask for a test and do not fall into these recommendations, we will not test you. Your health is our priority; however, we are limited in our testing abilities that we must make tough choices.

It is easy to give in to fear in times like these. Please know that Innova continues to have your health and well-being at the heart of all we do. This is uncharted territory for us all. In spite of the rapidly changing climate in healthcare, we promise to do our best to serve you. If you would like to see our extensive list of precautionary measures, please visit here.

Stay safe.