Coronavirus [COVID-19] Update

We wanted to provide our patients with a brief message due to the coronavirus we are currently going through. At Southeastern Primary Care, we are making sure we take every precaution that we can, as outlined by the CDC, to make sure we are keeping our patients and staff safe; this includes proper handwashing, sanitizing all surfaces, and in some cases referring to urgent care or ER, depending on the severity of symptoms any high risk patients that may have a cough or a fever and referring them to the emergency room. With the current coronavirus outbreak, we understand patients may be concerned and therefore we want to make sure we are keeping all of our patients safe as you come into the office. We are screening our patients cautiously and following CDC guidelines to make sure we keep all of you happy and healthy. The guidelines below have been implemented immediately upon a visit to our office:

All well/scheduled patients are encouraged to come before 11am and all sicker patients (fever or cough or SOB) are to come after 11, no exception. Patients are being asked to wait in their car until 11am and a room is ready once once they check in at front office.

We will be offering telehealth services except physicals and new patients. If interested, please speak with one of our phone operators on availability and schedule an appointment.

Testing for COVID-19

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, please go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Southeastern Primary Care currently does not have the test available to determine the illness.

If you have or develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately by going to your nearest hospital for treatment.

Emergency warning signs include*:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

An important message from the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist:

While you have heard that frequent hand-washing with soap, being careful about what you touch, avoiding touching your face, and social distancing will help to defend against the coronavirus (COVID-19), what about nutrition? These are certainly challenging times, but this may be a golden opportunity to improve the quality of foods you eat!

Nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, that includes regular exercise like brisk walking, getting enough sleep, and not smoking, are the best ways to support your immune system to fight against viral infections. As you walk up and down the grocery aisles and see empty or almost empty shelves, you may be wondering which foods are best to purchase? Walk on over to the produce section to load your cart with colorful fruits and vegetables! Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best sources of immune-boosting nutrients, like vitamin C, vitamin A, and zinc. Canned or frozen varieties are fine to eat, too, and you can pair them up with fresh foods for a healthy meal.

Choose dark green, orange, yellow, and red fruits and vegetables to get the most value for your money:

• Dark Green: collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, spinach, kale, cabbage, broccoli, asparagus, bok choy, swiss chard, endive lettuce, arugula, watercress, and romaine lettuce.
• Orange and Yellow: canteloup, nectarines, oranges, grapefruit, peaches, apricots, mango, pineapple, lemons, bananas, starfruit, sweet potato, pumpkin, orange and yellow peppers, squash, carrots, and corn.
• Red: apples, watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, red grapes, pomegranates, cherries, cranberries, pink grapefruit, tomatoes, red peppers, red cabbage, red-skinned potatoes, and beets.

Also be sure to include whole-grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes (beans, peas, lentils) for more of these immune-boosting nutrients. If the bread aisle is empty then you may want to check out the deli section for flat breads like whole-grain tortillas or pita breads. Don't forget the health food section of the grocery store where the shelves may be better stocked with organic selections of these foods. An easy way to get enough of these important nutrients is to fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Split the other half of your plate between whole grains/legumes and lean protein, like baked or grilled chicken or fish, nuts, seeds, or legumes. It's true that some grocery stores are out of certain food items right now, but as much as possible, focus on eating a variety of colorful foods to improve the quality of your diet.