January 10, 2022
Sovah Physician Practices is committed to providing high quality care and protecting the health and safety of you, your family and our community. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been carefully following guidance from the Virginia Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monitoring the prevalence of the disease in our community, and taking all precautionary measures to safeguard our staff, providers and those we serve against the spread of COVID-19.
Last month, out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with federal and state guidance, we postponed most non-urgent office appointments and visits. We are encouraged that current projections indicate a lower than expected volume of COVID-19 in our region, which means that we are able to resume in-person appointments at our practice. We also will continue to offer telehealth services, when appropriate.
Your health is important, and our goal is to get back to providing the care you need in a way that continues to support our COVID-19 response and maintains a clean and safe environment for our team and our patients. Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below for a list of things you should know about our clinics and what you should expect when you are here for your office visit. While the experience may be a little different than when you may have been with us before, please know that our clinics are a safe place to receive care and that our providers and staff will continue to provide the high quality and compassionate care you have come to expect from Sovah Physician Practices. If you have any questions or to schedule an appointment, please call our team.
Thank you for entrusting us with your care. It is our privilege to serve you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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?
- When scheduling appointments, our practice has designated time blocks for acute/sick visits and separate time blocks for asymptomatic patients and well visits. We have also spread out appointment times to enable time for room cleaning.
- Our practice screens all patients in accordance with CDC screening guidelines for COVID-19. See below with screening details. Patients are asked to call before arrival if experiencing potential COVID-19 symptoms.
- Patients have the ability to check in for their appointment via phone and may wait in their car until their exam room is available, if medically appropriate.
- All patients and caregivers are screened upon arrival and will be asked to wear a mask. You are required to bring your own mask or bandana from home to cover your mouth and nose during your visit.
- Tissues, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and hands-free trash containers 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 including pens, clipboards, education smart boards/monitors/iPad, etc.
- 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.
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 required to bring your own cloth mask or bandana 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 bandana 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. Patient companions are limited to essential caregivers or one parent 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 under 16 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 required to bring your own cloth mask or bandana 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 and may wait in their car until this appointment, if medically appropriate. Our staff can call 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. Call our office and ask when scheduling your appointment whether a telehealth visit is appropriate for your needs.
If I have additional questions about my visit, who should I contact?
If you have any questions, please call our team. Phone number are located under each clinic page or can be found under Locations.