Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update 9-26-2020
We are closely following state and national guidelines for management of this situation and we have the health and safety of our patients and staff at the forefront of our minds.
We wish to inform you of the following:
1) Our office is open. In accordance with recommendations from the State of Maryland patient visits to the office are no longer strictly limited to emergency situations and skin conditions that pose a risk to a patient's life (such as melanoma). We are able to see patients in the office for non-emergent procedures. However, in order to continue to maintain an optimal balance of safety and access, we recommend that those patients who are not likely to require a procedure such as skin biopsy or liquid nitrogen, and those who are not at high risk for skin cancer, continue to see us with live video visits (see below.)
2) In many cases, we will be able to replace your in-office visit with a live video visit on your smartphone or computer from your home. We will be contacting patients with upcoming appointments to arrange this. Please feel free to call us to arrange this also. Click here for our Telemedicine Consent Form.
3) For those who are scheduled for appointments in the office, PLEASE DO NOT COME IF YOU HAVE FEVER, RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS, INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WITHIN 14 DAYS, OR HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH A PATIENT WITH CONFIRMED COVID-19 INFECTION. Call us and we will be glad to convert your appointment to a video visit, or to reschedule your appointment.
4) To help protect our patients and staff , we permit a maximum of one visitor per patient. If you can, please come to the office alone. If someone drives you to the appointment we ask that they wait in the car. No children under the age of 18 may enter the office unless they are actually being seen that day.
We understand this is a difficult time for our community and we continue to remain vigilant to keep patients and the staff safe. We appreciate your cooperation.
5) We are taking precautions within the suite for your protection including frequent disinfecting of the waiting area and exam rooms throughout the day, removal of magazines and the coffee bar from the waiting area, widespread placement of hand sanitizers, providers wearing masks during exams, among others. Every patient who enters the office is immediately instructed to apply hand sanitizer that is provided at the check-in desk.
6) We urge you to follow CDC and Surgeon General recommendations to maintain social distancing, wash or sanitize your hands frequently particularly after using a tissue, using the restroom. Try to avoid touching your nose, eyes, mouth, and if you do, wash or sanitize your hands immediately.
6) Remember that the virus is powerless to spread on its own! It needs our participation to spread. If each of us makes an effort to decrease spread in our immediate enviroment, we will be able to lessen the virus's impact.
7) In accordance with the State of Maryland's requirement, we have sent a letter to the Health Department documenting our self-certification for resumption of non-emergent care, providing assurance that we are complying with recommendations for protection of patients and staff, and that we possess adequate numbers of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff and patients when needed.
Dr. Mark Lowitt and Staff
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