Portal E-visits

Due to the extraordinary volume of electronic communications, we have decided to bill all insurances for portal communications.  This may result in a small charge to you depending on your type of insurance.  We will need prior consent from you to continue.

For patients:

• If a patient has any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, even if mild, they should NOT come to the office. They should stay home, contact their PCP or go to an acute care facility.
• If a patient has any exposure to individuals with possible or proven COVID-19, they should NOT come to the office.
• Patients (especially those who are immunosuppressed) should avoid sick contacts, limit large groups of people if possible (social distancing) and practice preventive actions (wash hands frequently, avoid touching face, clean and disinfect surfaces, etc.).
• We do not recommend routine discontinuation of immunosuppressant’s (methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate, biologics), but they should be held for any symptoms of infection. Some patients may elect to hold the medications on their own, but should realize that their disease could flare. This could be especially problematic in systemic multi-organ diseases like lupus. We advise patients to continue these medications until they talk with their doctor.
• Patients should limit use of steroids to lowest effective dose. Avoid steroid use if possible.
• Patients should know that we will NOT be doing testing for COVID-19 in our office for a multitude of reasons. Patients should direct testing-related questions to their PCPs or acute care facilities.
• Patients need to notify us if they have been to the office and subsequently test positive for the virus.
• Finally, we should reassure our patients that we are following safety protocols recommended by the CDC and VDHPS. We are keeping surfaces clean as we have always done, but with renewed vigilance.

COVID-l9 information resources:
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov