March 20, 2020 | Category: Uncategorized

Dear patients and community,

The physicians and team of Gastroenterology Consultants have been actively monitoring the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak and are regularly checking on updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.

With recent developments and mandates from the State, we want you to know that your health and safety is our top priority. As a medical practice, Gastroenterology Consultants falls into the category of essential business and will stay open to provide much needed GI care to the community and our patients. While the COVID-19 situation is fluid, we will continue to monitor the situation and make changes as needed to keep our patients, staff, and community safe.

In the past few weeks, our practice has taken additional steps to protect our patients and staff and to prevent the spread of the virus in our community. These are the following precautionary measures that have been implemented:

  • We are working diligently to make all the providers more accessible remotely to our patients through Telemedicine. Details will be released in the coming week.
  • Our practice is following the guidelines set out by the CDC and the state and federal government public health agencies. There are signs at each of our entrances with information regarding our new screening procedures.
  • We are sending reminders encouraging patients who are experiencing symptoms to reschedule, screening patients upon arrival, and providing masks to patients with any kind of respiratory symptoms.
  • The specialized janitorial team we have is aware of the severity of the COVID-19 situation, so on top of their normal, hospital-grade cleaning procedures, they’ve been ensuring all high-touch areas are being deep-cleaned and sanitized on a daily basis.
  • Our staff follow standard best practices for cleaning and sanitizing exam rooms, scheduling areas, and all high touch areas in the office after every patient, and additional cleaning supplies have been given to staff to continue this practice.
  • We have asked patients to limit the number of guests they bring, and we are asking that all guests of patients who will not participate in appointments wait in their vehicles rather than in our waiting rooms. Additionally, we have asked that drivers who pick up patients from procedures wait in their vehicles, as well.
  • Additional hand sanitizers have been placed in each of our offices for patients to use during their visits.
  • Staff have been reminded in several communications to use proper hand washing techniques, with signs in each bathroom serving as secondary reminders, and to practice social distancing as much as possible with patients and amongst each other.
  • We have increased leniency on our absence policy and encourage any staff that are showing any of the confirmed signs of illness to stay home.

We encourage you to give us a call if you have any questions at 775-329-4600 for either of our Reno Offices or 775-884-4567 for our Carson office. Again, if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms, like a cough or shortness of breath, please contact us to reschedule your appointment.

Thank you,

Gastroenterology Consultants