The recent worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and other impactful news of late has taken the attention of many of us away from one of our most important priorities, maintaining our good health.
Eskenazi Health encourages everyone to remain vigilant by having regular check-ups and staying current with vaccines and medications. To that end, the following measures are being taken at all Eskenazi Health facilities to protect you and our staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Many appointments with Eskenazi Health providers of late have been taking place via telephone or through telehealth visits. This will continue, but we are also carefully resuming some in-person appointments and procedures.
• We are keeping the number of visits and procedures that we do each day much lower than usual to decrease the number of people in our buildings.
• Everyone in Eskenazi Health facilities is required to wear a face mask. This includes all patients, visitors and staff members, and we will provide masks for those who need them. Masks reduce the spread of the virus especially from people just coming down with the infection who may not know they are getting sick. We wear masks to protect others, not just ourselves.
• We are screening people entering our buildings for illness. We do not allow our staff to come to work if they feel sick.
• We have placed hand sanitizers at all entrances and where patients and staff travel in our buildings. Please use them when you are here.
• We are cleaning all surfaces that people touch, such as door handles, table tops, and the arms of chairs, frequently. The procedures we use to clean all of our patient care rooms are proven to kill the virus.
• We have arranged waiting areas to keep people well separated to adhere to social distancing guidelines
• We are limiting visitors to one adult visitor for patients undergoing procedures. No visitors, including children, may accompany patients to clinic appointments or procedures. Again, this is to reduce the number of people in our buildings. Please contact your treatment team in advance if you need someone to attend your appointment with you.
• Eskenazi Health also encourages you to wash your hands with soap and water 5 to 10 times a day
• Don’t touch your face if you haven’t first washed your hands.
• Wear a mask when you’re outside of your home. A cloth mask that covers your nose and mouth, fits closely to your face, and is washed every day greatly reduces the transmission of the virus.
• Practice social distancing: try to stay at least 6 feet away from people, even when both of you are wearing masks.
People who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their health care provider immediately. If you are ill with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, please call your health center or clinic before coming to your appointment. At Eskenazi Health, please call 317-880-7666 before coming to your appointment. Health care professionals are available 24/7 to answer questions on symptoms and direct you to the most appropriate care. It is important to call before arriving at Eskenazi Health. You can also connect with your primary care provider’s office through your Eskenazi Health MyChart account online at EskenaziHealth.edu.
Dr. Nydia Nunez-Estrada
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Eskenazi Health Center North Arlington