COVID-19 Patient Policies
NDBC is currently open at all locations and will remain open through the COVID-19 crisis. Some of our services can be done via TeleHealth to try develop a working diagnosis and treatment plan for you, but please understand, certain procures and tests must be done in-clinic due to testing equipment needs. Please visit our Telehealth page for more complete information on how our TeleHealth services can help you today.
Current Clinic Policies
- ALL CLINICS – MN now requires at ALL of our clinics to wear a mask for patients and staff. This means you WILL be required to wear a mask when being treated at any of our clinics.
- If you do NOT want to wear a mask to seek treatment at NDBC, these are your options:
1. You can be seen by wearing a face shield that NDBC can supply you during your appointment
2. You can utilize our Telehealth option if it’s appropriate and if your insurance allows
3. If you refuse those alternatives you will NOT be seen at any NDBC Clinic
Current MN Law:
“If the business cannot reasonably accommodate a customer who is unable to wear a face covering or an alternative in a way that minimizes or eliminates potential exposure to others, (for example, if the nature of the business does not allow curbside pick-up and makes strict social distancing impossible or unlikely), or if the customer refuses the accommodations, the business is allowed to and should refuse service to the customer.”
“Under the Executive Order a business must, when possible, offer a reasonable accommodation, such as permitting use of an alternate form of face covering (e.g., face shield) or providing service options that do not require a customer to enter the business. (Telehealth)”
Keeping our Patients & Employees Safe
The situation with COVID-19 continues to evolve daily, and several US cities and states have been implementing a ‘shelter in place’ order for all non-essential activity. Outpatient rehabilitation is one of the essential healthcare services that has been permitted and encouraged to continue to operate in order to keep our patients healthy.
- In compliance with State and Federal guidelines, NDBC has begun to distribute face masks to our in-clinic patients if they do not currently have there own. We also explain how to clean and reuse your mask to help keep it effective as possible.
- We have also greatly expanded our Telehealth program for patients as a response to patients wanting to continue their care, please visit our our Telehealth Page for more information.
Current Screening Process for Patient Appointments
We have established a screening process for all employees and staff, to ensure we can provide a safe clinic atmosphere. All patients, visitors, QRCs and Interpreters will have their temperature taken when entering a clinic. If the temperature is 100.4 or above you will be asked to leave NDBC. We will also also you the questions outlined below, to aid us in determining the exposure you may have had to the COVID-19 virus. Please understand, this process is essential to keep you and our other patients safe while getting your care here at NDBC.
Everyone is Screened for:
- Travel to or contact with individuals who have traveled outside the US in the past 30 days
- Confirmed COVID-19 and/or contact with an individual laboratory testing positive with COVID-19
- Symptoms of:
- Fever of 100.4 degrees or higher
- Respiratory distress
If you would say YES to any of the above, do NOT report to NDBC. If you have traveled out of country in the past 30 days and/or been in contact with an individual with a positive laboratory COVID-19 test, you cannot be seen in person for 14 days. However, you may still be appropriate for our Telehealth program, please call Teresa at 952-800-8951.
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What is COVID-19..?
On February 11, 2020 the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak, first identified in Wuhan China. The new name of this disease is coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19. In COVID-19, ‘CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as “2019 novel coronavirus” or “2019-nCoV”.
A novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold. A diagnosis with coronavirus 229E, NL63, OC43, or HKU1 is not the same as a COVID-19 diagnosis. Patients with COVID-19 will be evaluated and cared for differently than patients with common coronavirus diagnosis.
How does is spread?
This virus was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The first infections were linked to a live animal market, but the virus is now spreading from person-to-person. It’s important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so.
The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in some affected geographic areas. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.
How long someone is actively sick can vary so the decision on when to release someone from isolation is made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with doctors, infection prevention and control experts, and public health officials and involves considering specifics of each situation including disease severity, illness signs and symptoms, and results of laboratory testing for that patient.
What are the symptoms? What should I do if I believe I may have COVID-19?
Current symptoms reported for patients with COVID-19 have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever1, cough, and difficulty breathing. Read about COVID-19 Symptoms.
If you develop symptoms such as fever, cough, and/or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider. Older patients and individuals who have severe underlying medical conditions or are immunocompromised should contact their healthcare provider early, even if their illness is mild. If you have severe symptoms, such as persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips of face, contact your healthcare provider or emergency room and seek care immediately. Your doctor will determine if you have signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and whether you should be tested.
Using the CDC-developed diagnostic test, a negative result means that the virus that causes COVID-19 was not found in the person’s sample. In the early stages of infection, it is possible the virus will not be detected. For COVID-19, a negative test result for a sample collected while a person has symptoms likely means that the COVID-19 virus is not causing their current illness.
FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF FAQ VISIT THE CDC WEBSITE:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#basics
SOURCE OF INFORMATION: