PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
To all of our patients, it is our intention to continue to keep you updated as we gather new information and learn more about this NOVEL Coronavirus. With new information will come new guidelines and new recommendations.
The Center for Disease Control, World Health Organization, and The White House now strongly advocate SOCIAL DISTANCING & WIDESPREAD TESTING as vitally important measures to best slow the spread of this highly contagious virus.
In keeping with these recommendations Ballantyne Medical Associates®® is now able to conduct most medical care via TELEMEDICINE through our website’s PATIENT PORTAL ( NOTE: This function is NOT available on your smartphone’s Healow App.) During this time of National Emergency. TELEMEDICINE visits will be coded and billed just like regular office visits so you need not have current TELEMEDICINE/ Virtual Visit additional insurance coverage to take advantage of this service. Additionally, so that patients with high deductible plans are not deterred from seeking medical care for this pandemic virus, many insurance companies have also committed to covering the costs associated with suspected COVID-19 regardless of your insurance deductible.
Additionally, as of 3-16-20, Ballantyne Medical Associates®® has been performing nasopharyngeal & throat swab PCR testing for 34 separate respiratory pathogens, including the NOVEL Coronavirus (COVID-19). We are then able to obtain and call you with your results within 48 to 72 hours.
While we continue to consider symptomatic individuals with close exposure to COVID-19 confirmed positive patients or individuals from high endemic regions of COVID-19 infection to be at highest risk we have extended testing to any and all patients with any acute respiratory illness. As an update to my first COVID-19 e-mail we have decided to close our Walk In Clinic as a measure of safety to our patients and employees since safe social distancing mandates would be impossible to abide by given the layout of our Walk In Clinic. This decision will also allow us to improvise and pool our resources so that we have all employees report to a central location to make certain that we can answer all of our patients questions and address any and all of their acute and chronic healthcare needs more efficiently and confidently.
With these rapid and recent changes, we have decided to set up an evaluation and testing containment zone located at that private parking lot directly adjacent to the rear of our Main Office building. Patients will be seen, evaluated, and tested while they sit in their car by one of the Ballantyne Medical Associates®® physicians or physician assistants who will come out to your car in PPE (personal protective equipment). Under no circumstance will we allow patients suspected of respiratory illness within our building so that we can continue to protect all of the other patients with on-site appointments and the working employees of Ballantyne Medical Associates®®.
The rapid adoption of this new technology will be instrumental in helping to keep you, as well as your friends, family, and colleagues as safe as possible while also slowing the spread of this highly contagious pandemic virus throughout our community.
Be Well!
