COVID-19 Update May 4, 2020 Televisit
Dear Patients,
We at Santa Maria Gastroenterology are encouraged by the fact that our community has been less impacted than expected from the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful to the community and the local health authorities for all their efforts in preparing for and controlling this pandemic.
Along with everyone else, we were alarmed at the speed that COVID-19 developed and spread throughout California. We heeded the call to stop all elective procedures and took extraordinary precautions to maintain the safety of our patients, staff and the community at large. We began consulting patients and conducting patient management through telemedicine, while keeping our office available for telephone calls and pharmacy requests. Marian Regional Medical Center allowed us to perform urgent procedures using their facilities. The hospital partnered with us to provide outpatient care in the safest manner possible, and we are very thankful for their assistance.
During the hiatus we were also able to obtain enough protective equipment for all staff members and to develop new safety protocols for the outpatient endoscopy center. The center will reopen on Monday, May 4th for procedures, including selected screening colonoscopies.
We ask for patience as we deploy our new protocols. These protocols will include testing of all patients for COVID-19 before the procedure, as well as a temperature check and a questionnaire on the day of the procedure. The facility has been reconfigured to enhance social distancing. All staff and patients will wear masks when they are in the facility.
New information will continue to drive refinements in our protocols as our understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic progresses. Thank you again for your patience. We look forward to taking this initial step in a return to normalcy beginning next week.
Sincerely,
Santa Maria Gastroenterology
Please check back frequently for updates and we apologize for the inconvenience.
Our group of physicians specialize in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the medical field dedicated to digestive, pancreatic, gallbladder, and liver health.
Our practice is located in the city of Santa Maria. While we perform the majority of our diagnostic endoscopic exams at Santa Maria Digestive Diagnostic Center, our doctors have staff privileges at Marian Regional Medical Center and regularly assist primary care physicians in the evaluation and treatment of patients hospitalized with gastrointestinal disorders.
Our website is designed to offer helpful information to our patients and their families. As you navigate through the site you will find a wealth of information about digestive health, available treatments, endoscopic procedures, and educational videos. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or for an appointment.