Dear Valued Employers,
As the threat of coronavirus, or COVID-19, increases, emergency rooms at hospitals have seen a significant increase in the number of patients seeking testing to see if they have contracted the virus.
Hospital emergency rooms are not designated testing sites, and, while they can submit test samples to the Health Department for analysis, they can only test those patients who meet very strict criteria in terms of potential exposure. A majority of those who are requesting to be tested don’t meet those criteria, so they are being sent home.
Those patients are having an impact, however. The influx of testing requests is clogging up ERs and interfering with the hospitals’ ability to provide care to patients who truly require urgent attention.
The Mission Virtual Clinic (MVC) has been in existence since 2016 to treat medically appropriate illnesses virtually. The cost is only $25 plus the cost of some diagnostic testing, if required. (Flu Test, COVID-19 Test, etc.). Open from 7am-11pm, this option is ideal for WNC citizens because it is convenient and helps maintain social distancing, a key method to reduce the coronavirus spread. When registering in the MVC you will identify your preferred pharmacy should a prescription be necessary. Also, we can identify nearby options to obtain any necessary diagnostics (including the COVID-19 test). If you access the MVC after 11pm you will still be allowed to complete the virtual visit; however, you won’t receive a provider response until after 7AM the next day.
Unless symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath are severe, people concerned about COVID- 19 should quarantine themselves at home. For most otherwise healthy individuals, additional treatment likely will not be required.
If symptoms worsen or become life-threatening, patients should call their doctor or go to the ER.
Hospitals encourage people to call before they arrive so that healthcare workers can be prepared to take precautions. We need to protect our healthcare workers against potential exposure as much as possible, as they are our front-line defense against COVID-19.
Until more widespread testing is available, hospitals are asking residents to follow these steps to help prevent the spread of the virus and ensure those who truly need help have the proper care available.
Thank you,
Mission Employer Solutions