Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Northeast Allergy, Asthma & Immunology team was pleased to remain open to support our patients and provide them with the care they need. We implemented several procedures to ensure the safety of our staff and patients. While we’ve moved into a new phase of the COVID-19 outbreak, our goal remains unchanged – to maintain a safe and healthy environment and to continue to provide exceptional care for you and your family.
Our team is frequently accessing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Massachusetts Department of Health, and other agencies so we can continue to follow best practices and provide you with the safest environment possible.
We want to share the steps we continue to take in our offices to keep you safe:
- We are screening all patients at check-in for COVID-19 symptoms
- We decreased the amount of seating in our waiting rooms to maintain social distancing
- We are disinfecting waiting rooms regularly throughout the day
- All patients (over the age of 2) and staff are required to wear face coverings in the waiting room and care areas at all times
Please call the office before coming in if you or you child have or have had COVID-19, been exposed to COVID-19, or have a fever, cough, loss of sense of smell, feel ill or if you or your child are in quarantine according to Mass.gov travel restrictions.
Recommendations for our patients
For our asthma patients
- Please make sure your inhalers and nebulizer medications are up to date and well-stocked. If you have been seen in our practice within the last year, we can refill those medications. Be sure nebulizers are working properly.
- Consider keeping a small finger oxygen saturation monitor on hand at home. If you are having trouble breathing, you can check your oxygen level and contact us if there are complications. Normal levels are typically 97% and up. Below 94% is an indication you need to see a healthcare provider.
- Keep a thermometer available and check that it is working. Keep medications for fevers available at home and check their expiration dates. Know your child’s correct dose.
- Get an influenza vaccine if you have not already had one
For our immune deficient patients
Patients with weakened immune systems are at risk for more severe disease if they are infected with COVID-19. Gamma globulin infusions do NOT protect against COVID-19. Immune deficient patients should follow all precautions recommended for the general population, especially concerning hand hygiene and respiratory protection when there is risk of contagion. Immune deficient individuals should consider postponing any travel to areas of high COVID-19 activity and should avoid crowded environments, in general, until the public health agencies have declared that the level of risk has subsided.
Prevention
To reduce your risk of COVID-19 infection, you can follow the CDC guidelines for prevention.
- Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- If soap and water are not available, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash, and washing your hands
- Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Staying home when you are sick
- Some also advise avoidance of shaking hands and other contact
Please visit the CDC website for most up to date information on COVID-19.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html
