CAREFINITI HEALTH WELCOMES YOU

Important Message: COVID-19

​To all patients of Carefiniti Health Clinics,

In the midst of the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the last few weeks have certainly been challenging for our physicians and staff members as we are continually trying to keep up with both the rapidly developing situation, as well the constantly changing guidelines. 

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We acknowledge that this can be a very difficult and stressful time for our patients; especially for those of you who may not be feeling well. We hope that you will be patient with us and understand our decisions to make some temporary changes in how we are addressing your individual health concerns. Whether your concerns are specifically about COVID-19, or if you are needing prescription refills, or to review results with your family physician, we are making a move to do most of these visits over the phone, and televisits. Where possible, we will help guide you through these modes of communication.

Phone or telehealth visits will be crucial for the following patients: 

• Those experiencing mild cold or flu-like symptoms. ​​**Please do not come to the clinic if you are sick. If you are feeling sick, or are worried about COVID-19 exposure, please stay home and call the clinic to make a phone appointment with your doctor** 

• History of international travel in the last 14 days 

• Our elderly population, and immunocompromised patients
  
  

Phone/telehealth visits will also be beneficial for patients requiring refills, or to review results, or any other issues that do not require an urgent physical examination as we are all trying to practice social distancing.  If you don’t need to be in a doctor’s office, you shouldn’t be. We have been advised by the Provincial Health Officer to keep patients with mild upper respiratory symptoms out of our clinic. 

As a community, we need to practice social distancing more than ever. The goal is to reduce the number of patients coming into the clinic each day. If you are advised to self-isolate, this means you are staying at home. If you are not going to work you should not be going to public places.

Booking of telephone and virtual appointments can be made by phoning the office during office hours and speaking with staff to set up a time to connect. Physicians will be setting aside certain parts of the day for these appointments and will treat them as we do in-office visits. If you come to the agreement with your physician that you do need to be assessed in person, your family physician will arrange an appropriate time for you to come into the clinic. This new appointment process will be evaluated and adjusted to accommodate ongoing developments as needed.

**Please note: If you are having trouble breathing or are extremely unwell, and cannot wait for a phone appointment, you should seek emergency health services at a hospital or urgent care centre**

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We have made a collective agreement to cancel/postpone elective “check-up” appointments for the time being. This means that complete physical exams, Drivers License Medicals, pap smears and procedures will be rescheduled at a later date. Cancelling these visits will help us free our time to better handle the increased workload we are currently experiencing and be available for patients with more pressing concerns and phone/virtual appointments. 

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Please be advised that we continue to strongly recommend that all patients abide by the up to date recommendations of the B.C. Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, which include: when to seek medical attention, when to quarantine, and when to self-isolate. 

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Please continue to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap for 20 seconds, avoid touching your face, cough into your sleeve and practice social distancing to do your part to support community efforts for the containment of Covid-19. Every one of us has the responsibility to be mindful of doing their part in maintaining health and safety for all. 

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Thank you from all of us at Carefiniti Health.