(Coronavirus) COVID-19 Latest Information 04/01/2020
The most important things we want you to know are:
-At this time, for our patient's and staff's safety, our door will remain locked, but our staff will still be working normal office hours to address ongoing needs and prescription refills.
- Our office will be CLOSED on April 10th for Good Friday
- March 31, 2020 Gov. Henry McMaster Ordered Non-Essential Businesses Closed Throughout S.C. See more details HERE.
Entertainment venues and facilities
Recreational and athletic facilities and activities
Close-contact service providers
- We are rescheduling ALL in office visits to phone or video visits
- Your physician will determine if you need to be seen for any urgent in office visits
- Don't forget we are in the peak of allergy season. Remember to use your allergy medications such as: Flonase, Saline, Zyrtec, Claritin, etc..
Temporary Prescription Pick Up Procedure
Once you have been informed your refill is ready via text we ask that you do the following:
When you are in the parking lot, please CALL US at 864-965-9150. *PLEASE STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE*
We will place your medications or prescription outside on the designated table.
Once your medication or prescription is on the table you may pick it up being mindful of social distancing (6 feet between each person) so that there is only one person at the table at time.
Check that all meds are correct and have your name on them.
These precautions are for your safety and to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Video Visits
We are still offering video visits for patients that would like to have a face to face interaction with their doctor.
Once you and your doctor have decided on a video visit, your doctor can send you an email invite. Access your email on your phone, laptop, or tablet, and click the link provided. It sends your doctor a notification that you are ready, then you accept the permissions for camera, etc, then we should be on video call.
This video call is logged in your chart, but not recorded.
It works on Safari for Mac and Safari for iOS. The only major browser we don't support right now is Chrome for iOS, but there's nothing we can do there (Apple's fault).Chrome for Android works fine (unless it's some ancient version)
"If I have COVID-19 symptoms what should I do?"
If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath) and may have been exposed to someone with the illness, please call/text your doctor. Contacting us ahead of time will make sure you get the care you need without putting others at risk.
"Are there new rapid COVID-19 tests available?"
At this time there is no rapid test available for our community. If this resource does become available we will ensure it is a reliable test and make you aware.
The only available option for doctor ordered testing in our community is a drive through at AnMed for high risk patients only.
"I hear that chloroquine and z-packs are the way to treat this virus. Can I get a prescription?"
We are all hopeful that there will be effective treatment, and prevention, soon, but we’re not there yet. Hydroxycholoroquine (aka Plaquenil) and chloroquine are drugs used to treat malaria.
There are many studies in progress to investigate the safety and efficacy of these drugs in COVID-19, and lots of hypotheses, but nothing conclusive. And, these drugs do have potential side effects and drug-drug interactions.
Sadly, much in the way that toilet paper and N95 masks have become difficult to come by, so has Plaquenil. Many patients with autoimmune disorders (lupus and rheumatoid arthritis) rely on these medications and are now having trouble getting their routine prescriptions filled.
We have reviewed the data and it is not convincing to us as this time, but we will continue to research and provide you with the most appropriate and up to date available treatment.
Please get information only from reliable sources!
We continue to see a lot of really misleading and factually incorrect information circulating. Please fact check before believing what you read or sharing/forwarding to others unless it comes from a reliable source.
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