COVID-19: OFFICE REOPENING UPDATE

Thank you all for your patience during these unsettling and challenging times.  Per the NC DHHS and state/local government officials, NC has been successful in preventing a "peak" of COVID-19 with aggressive social distancing, an increase in testing, and stay-at-home measures. 

We are currently in Phase 1 of re-opening. Durham county has indefinitely extended a stay-at-home order.  We feel that we can safely re-open on Thursday, May 21, 2020, with some major changes in our normal operations.

Only 1 medical provider will be in the office each day.  On Tuesdays, Mallory is offering Telehealth visits ONLY.   On Wednesdays, Colleen is offering Telehealth visits ONLY.  NON-gynecological Annuals will only be completed on Wednesday mornings with Mallory and Thursday mornings with Colleen until we can return to a more regular schedule.  

We are unsure how long a schedule like this will remain and could potentially change again to keep you and the DHW team safe.  We STRONGLY encourage you to continue utilizing Telehealth visits for not only your safety, but for our entire community.

Our hours of operation, until further notice, will be the following:

Raleigh: Mondays only from 10AM to 5PM beginning June 1, 2020

Durham: Tuesday-Thursday from  8:30AM-5PM, closed 12PM-1:30PM for lunch

Durham Labs: Tuesday-Thursday from 8:30AM to 4:30PM, closed 12PM to 1:30PM for lunch. On Fridays, labs will be conducted from 9AM to 12PM.

Fridays: 9AM to 6PM alternating weeks between Durham and Raleigh

Memorial Day- CLOSED

All staff will be screened daily for temperatures and if one person develops a fever or other symptoms, we will close the office for a two week quarantine and go back to Telehealth visits ONLY.  All staff will be in a gown, gloves, mask, and face shield.  We must complete  universal precautions and act as though every person our team comes in contact with has COVID-19. 

Patients will not be allowed in the office for an in-person visit if they have had any of the following symptoms for the last 2 weeks: 

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• New onset diarrhea
• New onset nausea

If you are concerned that you may have contracted COVID-19, we request you go to a drive-thru testing center for a swab.  Walgreens at 3798 Guess Rd. Durham, NC 27705 is a drive-thru testing site.

In order to keep the volume of patients in the office to a minimum, please wait in your car. The office front door will remain locked at all times to manage the flow of patients. Upon arrival to the office, text the following number: 984-208-3240.

DO NOT CALL THIS NUMBER IT DOES NOT RING AND NO ONE WILL ANSWER.  

Once you arrive, a member of the team will call you to complete screening questions.  If all screening questions are negative, we will come to your car to take your temperature.  If it is under 100.0F you will be escorted into the office and to an exam room for your appointment to begin.  These instructions are also on the portal homepage, in your appointment reminder e-mail, and on our front door. 

For any procedure completed in the office, we have an addendum to the regular consent for COVID-19 that a signature is required prior to procedure. Additionally, if any patient develops COVID-19 after an in person visit, please be sure to call the office and let our team know.  No facials will be offered with Caroline at this time.  

Because social distancing is very challenging in our office space, we must abide by the rule in Durham County that you are required to wear a mask during the duration of your office visit. Please pay attention to the weather, the exam rooms may be warmer or cooler than usual due to keeping all windows in the office open to help with air flow.  This is a recommendation of the CDC. Additionally, our patient restroom is closed until further notice. Please be sure to use the restroom at home prior to your appointment.

PAYMENTS:

• All insurance co-pays will be billed.  No payments will be taken in the office.
• All in-office aesthetic and supplement purchases will be sent a link to complete in the office from your cell phone. We have free secure Wi-Fi for patients.

The online store is still open for supplement and skincare needs.  Once we open we can offer pick-up from 1:30-4PM Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  If those pick up times do not work, we will ship them to your home.  Upon arrival for pick up of supplements/skincare please text that you have arrived and we will place the order outside for you to pick up.  TEXT ONLY: 984-208-3240 

We have a structured room cleaning and disinfection schedule in place, using CDC approved cleaning agents. Please note, this may cause some delays during in-office visits. We ask for your patience and again, we strongly encourage Telehealth for your visit during these uncertain times. 

OFFICE POLICY CHANGES: 

Health insurance companies are now reimbursing for medical providers responding to portal messages.  We have been billing insurance companies for portal messages that require more than 1 member of the staff to complete, for prescription changes, diagnosing possible medical issues, and the like. 

For self-pay patients, if your portal message requires a change in a prescription, multiple staff members to complete, or to diagnose a medical issue, you will be sent an invoice for $25.  

Please email us with any questions.

Thank you,

DHW Team