Hello everyone, as July is thunderously setting in I am, once again, reaching out to you with news of DC Medical Care and our reopening schedule.
We live in unprecedented times, and I look around daily at our changed world: everyone wearing a mask, many wearing gloves, people passing each other in the street with averted eyes, turning their backs... I go to the supermarket early, early in the morning or late at night, and look first at the parking lot: Too many cars? I will come back another time...
I never imagined a world so devoid of human touch, laughter, and togetherness. Yet, I still don’t think we are doing enough to prevent another spike of the virus, which may shut our barely open doors once again. We still don’t have reliable prevention, or treatment, of this potentially deadly disease, and the cases are slowly climbing up again in many states. Not surprisingly, the average age of people contacting the disease is decreasing as younger people return to a modicum of “normal” life.
Our doors at DC Medical are open again, and we are seeing patients in the office every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for full days. Mondays and Fridays we “see” people through telemedicine, as many types of follow-ups can now be easily accomplished this way. To minimize risk we strive for minimal office wait times, and disinfect everything aggressively between patients. The waiting room is transformed to accommodate only a few (distanced) people. I am in touch with many, many specialists, and through my ACO (Accountable Care Organization), I work hard to be up to speed with the latest COVID-19 guidelines. There is presently minimal risk in coming to the doctor and I am encouraging everyone who is due for their yearly physical, or simply has any medical issue, to come in without hesitation.
However, we are also seeing that some medical problems can actually be addressed remotely, such as medication checks, discussion of routine, periodic blood work, and chronic disease management like diabetes, cholesterol or asthma. It is easy and convenient to set up an appointment either virtually through video or just a simple phone call, so I advise you to take advantage of this option as well. . Anyone who feels sick, and is concerned that it may be a coronavirus, should still call the office for instructions and advice but not come in. To this end, we are NOT doing COVID testing, but we are still doing antibody testing. The office is open daily during regular business hours, so please reach out.
To all of you who have been my patients for many years and always ask about my family, I can report that we try our best to stay upbeat and active. This week we are on vacation in Delaware (Bethany Beach). We drove straight through Tropical Storm Fay and arrived on the hottest and most humid week, yet there is nothing as soothing to the spirit and senses as the waves of the ocean breaking against the beach. As I walk along the beach collecting shells with my boys I realize that the beach is the ONLY place I now feel comfortable without a mask. But protection and caution is, for now, the key to staying healthy and putting this pandemic behind us.