Health care workers taking steps to stay healthy
With COVID-19 cases in Milam County on the rise, health care professionals in the county are taking steps to stay healthy as they help the community.
Courtney Paulsen with Country Meadows Clinic in Thorndale said their clinic is only seeing sick patients outside in their vehicles to minimize exposure to their staff as well as other patients that are still visiting for labs or exams in the building.
“We are doing telemedicine visits to help keep people at home if possible, but unfortunately there are some that will still need in-person visits,” Paulsen said. “We are wearing surgical masks inside the building with patients and the full gear for our sick outdoor patients.”
Paulsen said the clinic will receive a new testing box/room that has been donated in the coming days. This small room will be placed outside in the clinic parking lot and will be used to house the medical assistant performing the test with a plexiglass shield to protect them. It will have armholes for them to be able to reach the patient to perform the test safely.
“During testing the swab may tickle the nose causing the patient to cough or sneeze and increasing risk of transmission,” she said. “We have gotten a lot of donations from local citizens and some businesses and we are so appreciative. PPE (personal protective equipment) is essential to our health and safety and typically these are not reused, they are disposable. Unfortunately most clinics and hospitals have had to resort to reusing these supplies in order to have some sort of barrier of protection.”
Paulsen said testing for COVID-19 testing is performed using a nasopharyngeal (collection swab placed at the back of the nose, like the flu test) or oropharyngeal swab (collection swab placed in the back of the throat), and sputum can also be collected in a sterile cup for analysis.
Testing results usually return 7-10 days after collection.
There are currently no drive-thru testing sites in Milam County. Patients will need to be established at the facility and see a provider and the provider will determine if there is need for testing.
She said that most often a flu test is performed first, and if negative, a COVID-19 test will be collected. Then patients are placed on a two-week quarantine while awaiting results and are given ER precautions if they develop symptoms like severe shortness of breath, chest pain, or uncontrollable fever.
Scott & White Clinic in Cameron is encouraging all patients experiencing fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, weakness, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting and/or loss of smell to first visit MyBSWHealth for a free online COVID-19 screening.
According to their website, for your safety and convenience, they ask that you complete this prior to scheduling an appointment or walking into a clinic, urgent care or hospital emergency department. Visit MyBSWHealth or download app and take the five-minute online screening. Following your screening, you may be prompted to complete an eVisit, which will be evaluated by a Baylor Scott & White provider. You will be required to create a MyBSWHealth account to begin eVisit. Following your eVisit, you will be provided the appropriate next steps.