COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
Are all CareMount offices now open?
Many of our offices are open with new access policies in place. Please continue to check our website for office hours and offerings.
What kind of services is CareMount offering in-person?
It is important to restart care that you have postponed such as chronic disease care and preventive care. Many patients have ongoing health care needs that are being deferred. It is time to re-start clinically necessary care.
Pediatrics:
In-person check-ups, vaccinations, and follow up visits for our pediatric patients are especially important to catch any health issues before they become worse. To read more about pediatric recommendations, click here.
Adults:
For our adult patients, our offices, urgent cares and radiology sites are open. If you are due for a screening (e.g. mammogram, ultrasound), lab test, imaging (xray, CT, MRI) or have cancelled a recent appointment with your provider, we strongly suggest you keep up with your essential and preventative care to detect any underlying conditions or unmanaged chronic disease which may put you at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19.
Is it safer to postpone an office visit until the pandemic is over?
We understand you may be hesitant to seek in-person care at this time. However, the dangers of undetected medical conditions and chronic disease may put you at even greater risk. We’ve put careful precautions and protocols in place to ensure a safe in-office visit. Don’t delay making an appointment for essential care.
If I feel sick, what is the best way to get care?
If you are ill, please call your doctor’s office first before coming in to avoid the potential of unnecessarily exposing other patients and our staff to COVID-19. We are scheduling well patients in the mornings and early afternoons. Patient who are sick will be seen by telemedicine or in the late afternoon.
CareMount providers are easily accessible and you can schedule an appointment in multiple ways, including calling for an in-office appointment or booking a scheduled Virtual Visit (telemedicine) online. Our urgent care locations spanning from Rhinebeck to Mount Kisco always offer walk-in hours. Whatever your need, always know that you can call our office and our team will determine the best way to care for you.
What is CareMount Medical doing to keep me safe at my next in-office visit?
For the safety and well-being of our patients and in-office teams, we are reinforcing best practices and careful considerations at all our facilities, including the below. We are also offering antibody testing to determine whether a person has been exposed to COVID-19.
Patients, Employees and Visitors: All persons entering our practices must wear a mask at all times; masks are provided to patients without one. Masks should cover your nose and mouth at all times. Masks with exhalation valves are not permitted in our office. The valve allows unfiltered exhaled air to escape. If you have a mask with valves, you will be required to switch to an alternative mask provided. This is to provide maximum safety to other patients and our team members.
Children over age two and who are medically able to tolerate a face-covering shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face-covering. CareMount may refuse entry to the building, or any part of our building to persons who do not adhere to our mask policies. For helpful information on child masks click here.
- Strict social distancing and physical distancing measures in all offices and waiting areas. For example:
· Minimal time spent in waiting areas
· Stand on our floor signs and 6 feet away from the front desk
· Chairs spaced at least 6 feet apart
· Staggered patient scheduling
· Restriction of visitors (unless medically necessary). - Patients are offered the option of waiting in their car or outside until the examination room is ready for them. Pre check-in is available via your own mobile device to streamline your registration.
- We are conducting enhanced sanitizing and use deep cleaning protocols to reduce potential spread of viruses.
- All team members are provided and must wear masks at all times when in CMM offices.
- All team members are provided with other PPE including gowns, hair covering, face shields, and eye protection to use as appropriate.
- CMM uses a testing based strategy, following CDC guidelines, to return healthcare workers to work after illness.
- Patients who are symptomatic or suspected to have COVID-19 are screened and seen through a telehealth visit when possible.
- Scheduling has been arranged to have ill patients cared for at a time and location so that they do not expose others.
Who Can Come With Me to My Visit?
Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in the community, CareMount Medical has revised its visitation policy. To help our patients maintain adequate social distancing and receive medical services safely, we have created a plan to prevent crowding at our locations.
At this time, we will not be allowing guests to accompany patients, with the exception of:
• One person may accompany individuals needing assistance or those needing an interpreter;
• One parent/guardian may accompany pediatric patients.
While we understand that this may be difficult in some situations, we find it is a necessary change to ensure the safety of all our patients and employees.
Visitors will be screened and masked in the same manner patients are. It remains the discretion of the provider as to whether it is appropriate to have anyone accompany the patient in the exam room. Only companions who keep their mask on at all times will be permitted to stay.
Is CareMount offering testing for COVID-19?
Click here for more information on Covid-19 testing.
Will you still be offering telemedicine?
As we resume in-person care, we will continue to maximize our telemedicine platforms for care that can be accomplished virtually. Telemedicine allows your personal provider to see you face-to-face through a video visit while you remain at home. All you need is a smartphone, tablet, or computer, and a reliable connection (WiFi or cellular). Click here to register and get started. Due to these challenging times, many insurance companies are covering telemedicine so there’s no fee at the time of your visit. Plus your visit is documented in your CareMount medical record.
While no one can predict when this crisis will end, you can feel confident that CareMount will always deliver the care you need now and in the future. Please continue to use our website as your go-to source for timely and relevant health news and information.