New procedures we have put in place for NHC patients:
Current Hours:
Boiling Spring Lakes Location: Mon-Wed 8am-5pm, Thurs 8am-7pm, Fri 8am-4pm. Everyone arriving at the clinic will be welcomed outside the front door to be asked a few questions and have their temperature checked before entering.
Shallotte Location: We have temporarily shut down operations at our Shallotte location. We will let you know when we are able to reopen our Shallotte clinic.
Virtual Visits:
We will ask patients questions when they call in to determine if a virtual visit is necessary or a possibility. Most visits will be changed to virtual visits for the safety of our patients and our volunteers and to conserve supplies. These will be a secure video-consults with the patient’s provider over the patient’s smartphone or laptop. We can help the patients with instructions on how to do the video-consult.
Respiratory Symptoms
: If a patient arrives with respiratory symptoms, the visit will be conducted via Telemedicine or at the patient’s car at the rear of the clinic.
Dental Services:
At this time, we cannot offer dental services because of a higher risk of fluid transmission. If patients need other options for dental care before we can resume services, we will try to help them find a location that is open for emergency needs.
Pharmacy
: Patients can still pick up their medications at the Boiling Spring Lakes clinic. A table is set up outside the front door of the clinic, where medications will be distributed to patients. We are asking for patients to call for refill requests at least two days ahead to allow time for review and we will attempt to sync as many medications to a 90-day pick-up schedule as possible. We cannot control timing of delivery for PAP medicines. Due to the small workspace, pharmacy techs will not be asked to volunteer for the time being.
At this time, the New Hope Clinic will temporarily halt the following services until further notice: One-on-one diabetes education, Weight counseling, Pulmonary function testing.
Other questions and enrollments will be handled over the phone and online, with patients mailing/faxing/emailing documents.
We are also cancelling Volunteer Orientations, until further notice.
We are putting additional controls in place and we will continually update them per CDC/NC DHHS/Brunswick County guidelines. The county has established a website (
https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/health/coronavirus
) with useful links. Please visit this website for reliable local and national information.
FYI - Testing is available in Brunswick County; if you suspect you have coronaviurs symptoms, contact your primary medical provider first to determine if your symptoms warrant a test and if they provide tests. Here's a
link to a useful guide
on the current guidance for monitoring symptoms versus getting testing.
Cancellation of events
We have cancelled the following events in April. We will let you know when these have been rescheduled.
Mikes Garage Band – Saturday, April 4
Volunteer Brunch – Saturday, April 25
Donations:
By conducting more visits virtually, we need to have some of our patients monitoring their own vitals at home, so donations of digital blood pressure cuffs and home thermometers, as well as our regular need for nebulizers and cases of bottles water, are greatly appreciated. Some of these, and other helpful items are found on our
Amazon charity wish list
.
Unopened original packages of Personal Protective Equipment (masks, eye shields/goggles, long jackets/gowns, gloves) and disinfecting wipes are also being collected for use here or for distribution to area healthcare providers. Some people have asked about sewing masks, so we found a pattern a hospital system in another state is sharing
online here
. These sewn masks are not intended to replace N95 respirators, but the idea is that cloth masks could help those respirators last longer.
Stay safe & thank you!
Sheila Roberts,
Executive Director
