LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky is going to be reopening in a slow, phased manner. As Governor Andy Beshear (D) has said all of us can expect things to be a little different from what they were before the coronavirus pandemic. Doctor visits is one area everyone will notice changes.
We wanted to see what doctors are doing to follow the Healthy at Work guidelines released by the governor's office and visited Norton Women's Health and Doctor Tamara Callahan. A week before the appointment,her office called to remind us to wear a mask to the appointment and went over basics of how we would be called ino the office.
Patients will notice the extreme lack of cars around the hospital, especially in the multi-story parking garage. Patients park their cars and can either call into the office or do an "e-checkin" from Norton's health app, My Chart. After checking in, we received a call from Callahan's office and identity, insurance, and contact information were confirmed. We were then told, Callahan's assistant, would call back when we could go to the office for the appointment.
When we entered the fifth floor, we noticed other doctor's offices had staff members at tables in front of the offices checking in patients. Each of the employees were wearing masks.
Once we got into Callahan's office, you notice that all of the waiting room chairs had been stacked on top of one another. Upon entry there is a hand sanitizer station, this was in place before the coronavirus outbreak. There was one other patient in the front office area. The patient did not have a mask and the staff provided her with one and she was taken back to see her doctor.
We approached the check-in desk and were asked to fill out a form confirming we did not have COVID-19 or symptoms related to the virus. While we filled out the form, assistants took our temperature using a thermal scanner. After confirming we were fever-free, we proceeded immediately to the examination area.
While in the exam room, the assistant proceeded to collect and update all information for the file, while wearing a mask and gloves.
Doctor Callahan came in, also wearing gloves and a mask and started asking questions related to the appointment. We then told her we wanted to tell our viewers about changes in offices. Callahan was more than happy to answer questions.
When asked about changes around the office, Callahan said the doctors focusing on obstetrics have kept busy and have been seeing patients, because as she said, "babies have to be born." Callahan says she has been practicing telehealth and it has been terrific, but she was surprised more people didn't or haven't taken advantage of it. She says a lot of what she and other doctors do is have conversations, discuss and exchange information with their patients. She says they talk through issues and possible treatments or options. Callahan says while there are times you need to see a person, there are times when all they need is a prescription which can easily be called in.
When our appointment was over, instead of returning to the front desk as we had done in the past, the assistant brought our checkout papers and escorted us to leave through a second door. This helps with social distancing.
Each doctor's office procedure will no doubt be different and each is working on the best practices for their offices, employees and patients.