Coronavirus Updates

We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our patients and staff by reducing the spread of the coronavirus and minimizing exposure.

Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions:

March 26rd, 2020

We know this is a stressful time. We are here for our patients! We are committed to providing information as soon as it is available. Please visit our new Frequently Asked Questions which discuss how we continue to adapt to this evolving situation.

Now Offering Telemedicine Visits:

March 23rd, 2020

Telemedicine refers to the practice of caring for patients remotely when the provider and patient are not physically present with each other. Modern technology has enabled doctors to consult with patients by using HIPAA-compliant video-conferencing tools.

Starting March 23rd, we will be conducting Telemedicine visits for our current patients.

• Our team will determine which types of visits are best suited for Telemedicine. We will still be seeing patients in our offices and urgent care.
• Our staff will set it up for you and your provider will call or video conference you to provide a health consultation.
• Medicare, Medicaid, and most other insurance companies are providing insurance coverage for Telemedicine visits. You may have a co-pay or co-insurance.

Please stay tuned for additional details.

Update on Elective Surgery:

March 22nd, 2020

All elective surgery has been postponed per Governor Lamont’s mandate. Urgent surgeries that cannot be delayed will be carefully evaluated to ensure they meet CDC guidelines. We continue to uphold the highest safety standards to provide the highest quality care during this time while minimizing the spread of COVID-19.

You will be contacted by your physician’s office.

Office Policies to Reduce the Spread of Coronavirus:

March 20th, 2020

New Office Hours:

As of March 23rd, we will see patients in the office between 9am-3pm. Urgent Care will still be available on weekdays from 4:30pm-8pm and weekends from 9am-1pm.

No Visitors at Appointments:

As of March 23rd, we will no longer allow visitors at appointments.

Seating:

We encourage social distancing in the waiting area; please sit at least 6 feet from another patient.

Rescheduling:

if you meet any of the criteria below, we kindly ask you to call us to reschedule your visit:

• Flu-like symptoms, fever, cough, or shortness of breath
• Have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 virus in the 14 days before beginning to feel sick

Call our main number to reschedule: (860) 549-3210.  

Safety:

Please practice excellent hygiene at all times. We recommend washing your hands before and after your visit or using an alcohol-based sanitizer.

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Statement from the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association regarding Elective Surgery and COVID-19:

March 16th, 2020

With the growing concern that hospitals may be overwhelmed by a surging number of patients with COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that some inpatient surgeries be shifted to outpatient settings, when feasible.  However, there has been conflicting guidance about elective surgeries that indicates additional guidance is warranted.

The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) has consulted with clinical experts in our community and the consensus position is that ASCs can continue to provide safe surgical care for patients whose condition cannot wait until hospitals return to normal operations.  As a critical component of the healthcare system, we are keenly aware of how our actions can materially impact the health of the communities that we serve and recommend the following guidelines for the continuation of urgent/needed care in our ASCs:

• Keeping facilities open for elective urgent surgeries
• Assessing and optimizing patients’ medical and social risk factors for planned surgeries, and postponing cases where indicated, including:
  • reassessing and reprioritizing all currently scheduled cases and postponing based on the current and projected COVID-19 cases in the facility and the surrounding area and when doing so will not result in significant medical deterioration or materially impact the patient’s prognosis, morbidity or treatment plan
  • Acknowledging that every patient encounter is unique and postponement decisions must represent a joint decision between the treating clinician and the patient
• Implementing rigorous screening for patients and visitors prior to entering the facility
• Maintaining a safe environment for patients, employees, and visitors, including adherence to social distancing recommendations
• Implementing enhanced cleaning as directed by CDC guidelines
• Working within the capacity of the supply chain to ensure that hospitals have priority for necessary equipment/supplies
• Collaborating with hospitals and health systems to coordinate care based on each community’s individual needs

ASCs can serve as alternative settings that provide surgical care for those patients who would suffer from a delay while allowing our local hospital partners to create the incremental capacity needed during these dynamic times.  As the pandemic progresses, we will continue to assess our approach, in coordination with experts throughout the healthcare system, to best serve the needs of patients and communities. 

The ASC community stands ready to work with federal officials, state and local governments, and all our colleagues in the healthcare system to provide needed care during these challenging times. 

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Guidelines to Prevent Spread of Coronavirus

March 8, 2020

The current 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues to evolve. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring this situation and is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and state and local public health partners to respond to this emerging public health threat. The goal of the CDC’s ongoing response is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the United States. Listed below are some recommendations from the CDC website regarding common-sense precautions in public spaces, including Orthopedic Associates of Hartford and affiliated Physical Therapy, Urgent Care Center, MRI, and Surgery Centers. 

• Stay informed – the CDC is updating its website daily with the latest at https://www.cdc.gov/
• Take everyday precautions that are always recommended to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses
• Avoid close and physical contact with sick people
• If sick, limit contact with others as much as possible
• Stay home from work if you are sick
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth
• Avoid shaking hands
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that have frequent human contact and may be contaminated with germs
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds 
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol content
• If you feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, and have traveled to China or any region with a reported outbreak or were in close contact with someone with the COVID-19 virus in the 14 days before you began to feel sick, please seek medical care. 
• Please call your internal medicine or primary care physician and describe your symptoms before going to an emergency room or doctor’s office. 
• Testing for COVID-19 can only be done at CDC-approved testing sites 

We are asking patients and visitors to reschedule appointments or surgery if they are experiencing any fever, viral, or flu-like respiratory symptoms. Please follow the CDC guidelines on travel restrictions and quarantines as listed on their website.