Mondays with your MD – Covid … Again? What you need to know

2022-09-12T18:57:23+00:00September 12th, 2022|Community, Coronavirus, Covid-19 Testing, Pandemic, Public Health, Vaccine|

There seem to be more cases of COVID circulating in our community now… so I thought I would share the most common questions and concerns I hear from patients.

My family member has COVID. How often do I need to test myself?

  • If you develop symptoms it is recommended to test immediately.
  • If you have symptoms and your rapid test is negative it is recommended you obtain a PCR test.
  • If you do not have symptoms, you should wait at least 5 days after your exposure to do testing.
  • If you are vaccinated and do not have symptoms you do not need to isolate before testing.

Can I really get COVID again? I already had it.

Yes. Everyone 12 years of age and older can receive an updated COVID booster which targets the new COVID variants. Although your disease may not be as severe, you can still catch COVID and pass it to others who may be more vulnerable.

My COVID test is positive… still.

Some patients believe they need a negative test to return to work. The truth is that once you have a positive test there is no reason to repeat a test. The isolation period is 5 days and can last up to 10 days depending on the severity of your illness. If your isolation ends on day 5, you should intentionally wear a mask whenever you go in public until the full 10 days has elapsed.

What is Paxlovid and does it work?

Paxlovid is one of the medications used to treat COVID. It is highly recommended for those at risk for disease progression and it significantly decreases the severity of the disease. Do not delay seeking care as this treatment must be started within days of when you first develop symptoms to be effective.

When you have questions about urgent health concerns, you want accessible advice from your physician. Wouldn’t it be great if you could just text your doctor and ask? At Roots Health DPC that is how we provide medical care! We are available to our patients by phone, email, and text anytime. Schedule a FREE “Meet and Greet” at Roots Health DPC to find out more.


 

We are now accepting new patients and would love the privilege of serving you in our clinic.

Resuming COVID-19 Testing

2022-01-11T14:40:34+00:00January 9th, 2022|Adults, Coronavirus, Covid-19 Testing, Families, Pandemic, Uncategorized|

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As the number of COVID cases again increases, we are aware that reliable testing has become difficult to obtain. At Roots Health DPC, we have chosen to resume COVID testing for the community to ensure everyone who needs a test has access. We offer PCR testing (and rapid testing for those with symptoms as well). This service continues to be available and free of charge for our members. We will now make it available to the public (non-members) with discounted pricing for testing of families. We remain committed to the health of our community.

Circling back: The Pandemic. Navigating Your Health Today.

2021-08-31T13:59:18+00:00August 31st, 2021|Adults, Coronavirus, Covid-19 Testing, Membership, Pandemic, Vaccine|

As the Delta strain sweeps across our country many of the measures to prevent spread are being reinstated. Most would agree, whenever we make progress in life, it is usually “2 steps forward and one step back.” Dealing with a novel coronavirus is no different.

The vaccines have been highly effective. They continue to give vaccinated persons protection by keeping vaccinated individuals out of the hospitals as this more virulent Delta variant spreads. This is witnessed across the country where the hospitalizations and deaths are afflicting the unvaccinated population heavily.

As the Delta variant continues to circulate and cases climb, we now know that vaccinated individuals can transmit the Delta variant to unvaccinated. We must again choose to protect our most vulnerable by wearing masks in public spaces, avoiding large indoor gatherings, spacing 6 feet, and getting tested. This time around, Covid testing is more widely available and there are rapid tests that can be done in the comfort of your own home.

I recommend Bimax now Antigen test, but would like to make you aware of the rapid testing limitations. The test works well if you have symptoms and it is a positive result. However, if you have been exposed you will need a PCR test 4-5days after exposure. If you have symptoms and a negative rapid test result you will also require a PCR test.

Our patients at Roots Health DPC are able to obtain PCR testing when they need it and it is sent to the lab for results. More importantly, each individual receives personalized and specific recommendations for their unique situation. Can you imagine navigating covid without a board-certified physician available to answer questions?

As with anything difficult, we can always find a silver-lining… and we must if we want to continue to grow and improve. The pandemic has made the case … we all deserve better health care. The foundation for improved health outcomes lies in the rebuilding of a solid physician-patient relationship and unlimited access to your physician when you need it. How we get through it all… will always depend on… who we get through it all with.

COVID-19 TESTING – Education and Information

2021-05-08T12:49:53+00:00December 13th, 2020|Adults, Community, Coronavirus, Covid-19 Testing, Families, Pandemic|

 

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO KEEP YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES SAFE

We all want quick COVID test results, understandably. But what we need are accurate results.  The worst-case scenario for my patients would be a false sense of security from a negative test when they, in fact, have COVID-19 and could harm the ones they love.  This is why public education around testing and results is so important.

At Roots Health DPC, we are committed to sharing information about COVID testing so that you can make informed decisions regarding testing and results.  Not all tests are created equal.  Below, we review what tests are used to detect whether someone has an active COVID infection, when additional testing might be necessary, and best practices for our patients when it comes to “rapid testing.”  

Types of COVID-19 Testing:

The most accurate, “gold standard” test for clinical diagnostic detection of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) is Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) more commonly known as “PCR testing”.  Other tests are available and include rapid point-of-care (POC) molecular test and the POC antigen tests.  POC tests, commonly known as “rapid tests,” have a higher probability of missing an active infection and it may be necessary to confirm rapid negative test results with a PCR test.

When might it be necessary to confirm a negative rapid test result with a PCR test?

In certain instances, a negative test result in a rapid test should be followed up by a PCR test.  For example, if the result of the rapid POC test is inconsistent with the patient’s symptoms.  In other words, if a patient has active COVID symptoms but receives a negative result, that person should proceed to PCR testing.

There are other instances when it is recommended to proceed to PCR confirmation of a negative rapid test.  For example, when you have been exposed to a known positive case for more than 15 minutes within 6 feet it is recommended to obtain testing.  If your rapid test is negative, PCR confirmation would be best practice.   

Given what we know about the decreased accuracy of rapid testing, what are the most appropriate uses for rapid testing? 

Rapid testing is extremely useful when it is positive.  However, it will not change the plan for the patient.  Patients who are symptomatic and positive will be instructed to isolate for a minimum of 10 days from the onset of symptoms while they are contagious to others.  Patients who are asymptomatic but have had a “close contact” exposure will be instructed to quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.   

Rapid testing may be an appropriate test for those who have no symptoms and no exposure.  For example, some people are required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel.    

Roots Health DPC is committed to providing accurate COVID-19 testing information to you and your loved ones.

There are many different tests being offered with a constantly changing landscape of locations and availability.  We understand that this can be overwhelming. It is our hope that this resource can help you navigate what type of test is best for you and your loved ones.  Wherever you choose to test, please makes sure you know what type of test is being offered and have your questions answered before testing.  

At Roots Health DPC, we currently offer PCR testing with a return time of 48-72 hours.  All persons who test with Roots Health DPC are provided relevant and clear CDC recommendations including information on what to do while waiting for your test result, understanding the difference between quarantine and isolation, understanding how to manage COVID-19 symptoms at home, and learning how best to prevent the spread in your home if you have COVID-19.

If we can be of service or answer any questions, please feel free to reach out to us directly at 708-613-7916.  

>>Click here to schedule a COVID-19 test<<

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