Dear Patients & Families, Athens Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine is committed to the health and safety of our patients, staff, and community. As we continue to closely monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, we want to assure you that we are taking necessary precautions to ensure your safety as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local authorities. As an added precaution, we ask that you please assist us by doing the following during your visit to our locations: ALL PATIENTS and STAFF will go through a verbal screening process upon entering our buildings, before entering the waiting rooms. Screening questions will relate to: If you have traveled outside the U.S. or any area with active coronavirus cases; If you are currently experiencing any flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches or cough; or if you have been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with the coronavirus NO companions/caregivers will be allowed inside with patients. ANY PATIENT experiencing any of the above symptoms or who has been in contact with anyone with the above symptoms will not be permitted to enter our building and we will gladly reschedule his/her appointment to a later date. ALL PATIENTS and STAFF will be required to sanitize their hands with disinfectant supplies provided at the point of entry into our buildings. In the coming days, Athens Pulmonary will reschedule all routine follow-up appointments . If you have a scheduled, essential appointment, please plan to keep this appointment unless you are experiencing symptoms like fever, cough, congestion, sore throat, runny nose or shortness of breath. Please arrive on time for your appointment, rather than too early in an effort to minimize the amount of time you will spend in our waiting room. In addition, if you are limiting your exposure to the public or would like to reschedule your appointment for any other reason, we will be happy to do that and, if necessary, provide refills by request. If you are a patient who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please call our office (706) 549-5560 to speak with our Triage Nurse. We will continue to diligently monitor developments and update our patients and staff accordingly. you have any other questions about your visit or scheduling a visit, contact our office directly. In addition to the regulations, the following measures have been put in place at our facility: Our medical office spaces are continuously cleaned as part of our normal course of business, and we will maintain rigorous standards including cleaning and disinfecting high-touch, high-traffic areas. Our offices are stocked with quality hand soap and disinfectant supplies. We are ensuring that our employees have the information they need to stay healthy. Employees not feeling well in any regard will not be allowed in the workplace. Limiting the amount of contact that our patients have with shared objects can help reduce the spread of certain infections, including COVID-19. Therefore, we have removed all magazines, books and other reading material from our waiting areas and exam rooms When a Caregiver is necessary, we will limit the number of Caregivers to one. Patients and caregivers will be screened at the entrance doors. Athens Pulmonary prides itself in the commitment to maintain a safe environment for both our employees and patients while continuing to deliver the best medical care possible. We want to thank you for the trust you have placed in our providers and staff and appreciate your help and support in helping us with the safety measures we have put into place. If you think you may have been exposed to coronavirus or are experiencing symptoms, please call 866-460-1119. PLEASE NOTE: Our office does not provide testing for COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Best Regards, The Providers and Staff at Athens Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Things you should know: According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: “For most of the American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low.” The CDC is now recommending that anyone who has traveled to a Level 3 country – even if they don’t have any symptoms – to self-isolate for 14 days. As of March 9, 2020, these countries include China, Iran, Italy and South Korea. Instructions for self-isolation are on the CDC website . For the large majority of patients who may have flu-like symptoms, testing for Coronavirus is still not necessary. There are many reasons why someone may have fever, cough, shortness of breath. If you have severe symptoms that are getting worse, go to an emergency room and mask yourself as soon as you can. The interim guidance in the following link is for staff at local and state health departments, infection prevention and control professionals, and healthcare personnel who are coordinating the home care and isolation of people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection, including persons under investigation |Interim Guidance for Implementing Home Care of People Not Requiring Hospitalization for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Athens Pulmonary patients and visitors: FAQ Family members and caregivers: Family and caregivers (and patients who have symptoms of COVID-19) will not be permitted inside the clinic. The CDC outlines recommendations for how to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus in homes and residential communities here. Are patients screened for respiratory symptoms? Yes, all patients will be screened for symptoms of respiratory illness at the entrance of the clinic. Should I wear a mask in the clinic? You should wear a mask in the clinic only if directed to do so by staff. Infection Control: Athens Pulmonary has extensive and thorough infection control procedures, and we will do everything we can to ensure the health and safety of our community. We have protocols and systems in place to keep all patients, visitors and healthcare workers safe. Have there been any COVID-19 exposures at Athens Pulmonary? At this time, Athens Pulmonary has not had a positive case of COVID-19. How can I prevent the spread of COVID-19? The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent exposure: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick. Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick. Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

As your healthcare provider, we are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our patients, staff and visitors. From the beginning of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, we’ve been working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other agencies to stay up to date with the latest information.