Our COVID-19 Policies and Procedures

It is our utmost concern at East Granby Family Practice to put the safety of our staff and patients first while continuing to offer medical care to our patients. We have developed procedures and protocols to separate our contagious patients from those who are not.

When calling for an appointment, patients will be screened for risk of coronavirus exposure or infection. Recent onset of fever, cough, respiratory distress, sore throat and recent travel history or exposure to crowds are concerning for the COVID-19 illness and our trained triage nurses will determine the next course of action in conjunction with the DPH. If testing is appropriate and available, patients will be directed to the nearest facility with an order from your EGFP provider.

 

If, when calling for an appointment, a patient is determined to be at low risk for coronavirus, an appointment will be given. We have asked all ill patients, once they have arrived at the parking lot, to call the office stating they are there. Our nurses will then meet the patient at the car and do limited vital signs and test, if needed for strep throat and/or flu. If, the patient needs further assessment, the patient would be brought to our special containment room for further evaluation. This is a room that we have set up that does not communicate with the rest of the office. In this manner, no contagious patient is entering the main office building minimizing risk to other patients and our staff.

 

We are continuing to see our healthy patients for their medical needs. This includes patients who need their visits for chronic medical problems, injuries, orthopedic problems, well-child visits, and preoperative evaluations. We are once again using our waiting room for routine patient visits, but we are trying to bring patients as quickly from the waiting room to the exam room.

 

We feel that it is important for our pediatric patients to keep their well-child visits, as it is important to monitor growth and development and to be sure that all immunizations are given to protect the children from other potentially devastating diseases. Once the nurses are informed of the child's arrival, they will prepare the immunizations, prepare the room, and when all is ready ask the parents to bring the child as quickly as possible to the designated well-child care room. This will minimize contact with any other patients. Parents are asked not to bring other siblings at this visit and if they themselves are ill, to reschedule the visit.

 

Some patients may still feel uneasy about coming to the office during this coronavirus pandemic. They may reschedule the appointment if the needs are not urgent. However, they may also opt for a telemedicine or virtual office visit. This means, they would keep the appointment time and their provider would call them then to update and adjust medications, refill prescriptions, evaluate and recommend treatment for problems, order blood work or other screening tests that are due such as mammograms or colonoscopies and make referrals if needed. A record of this visit will be maintained in the chart and appropriate virtual office visit billing submitted to insurance. If you have recently been ill with the COVID-19 illness, then you may need to postpone routine in-person office visits until 14 days have passed since the date of the positive test and 48 hours have passed since you have had symptoms. A Telemedicine visit (see below) is available if needed for medical care during this time.

 

Please be assured that all of our staff is following the cleanliness protocols from the Center for Disease Control and the Department of Public Health to prevent transmission of all infections including the coronavirus. This includes frequent handwashing, cleaning all surfaces between patients, wearing protective mask and gloves when needed and minimizing sharing of inanimate objects such as pens and papers. Even though we are only allowing non-contagious patients in our waiting room, we have set it up so that there is large distances between the chairs.
 

If you are ill and you have been vaccinated, then, in most instances, an in-person office visit is appropriate.  However, we will still use the utmost caution to protect you and our staff during the office visit and a face covering is still required. 

 

In the meantime, please be careful during this period of the coronavirus pandemic. Wear a face covering or mask when out in crowded public places and keep your contacts with others brief. Practice social distancing and self isolation. Wash your hands well with soap and water often. Keep your immune system healthy by staying positive, stay hydrated, exercise in fresh air, avoid alcohol overuse and get plenty of sleep. Take your multivitamin, with Vitamin D and Zinc, and your medications as directed. Stay well. 

Frequently Asked Questions

The Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a respiratory virus that gives symptoms similar to that of the flu or, even, the common cold.

 

Common symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Muscle pain, sputum induction and sore throat are less common symptoms. Although majority of cases result in mild symptoms, some progress to pneumonia and even death, especially in older adults who have multiple medical problems.

Initial administration of the vaccine has been at predetermined locations throughout the state. Patients can register in VAMS (Vaccine Administration Management System) of the CDC and then schedule a visit . You may be able to choose a location near your home. All persons from age 12 and older are able to register and schedule to receive a  vaccine.  A direct link to sign into the VAMS system is https://dphsubmissions.ct.gov/OnlineVaccine.
 

 

Another option, rather than going through the VAMS system,  go to https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/covid-19%20vaccinations, for more locations. There you can input your zip code and find a location that might also be giving the immunizations outside the VAMS system. A call to the location can sometimes secure an appointment; registration on a pharmacy website might also get you an earlier appointment. Your local town hall may also be helpful . If you are unable to use a computer or do not have e-mail options, then use the CT COVID Vaccine Appointment Assist Line at 877-918-2224 Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

We have registered to distribute the COVID vaccine to our patients in our office through the Department of Public Health (DPH). It is anticipated that we will be able to distribute the vaccine in our office starting in the fall. More information to come. Presently, vaccines are NOT being distributed through private offices, so please go to https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/covid-19%20vaccinations ,register and get the vaccine as soon as able.

 

Please call our office once you have received the vaccine so we may record it in you chart. 

 

For more general information on vaccine distribution, go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations.html. Understand that each state may distribute the vaccine a bit differently from the general guidelines. For Connecticut specific information, go to https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/covid-19%20vaccinations

 

If you feel you have symptoms of the COVID-19 illness and have not been vaccinated, Symptoms of Coronavirus | CDC,  then call the office and we will give safety procedures, including the use of a face covering, to be seen in the office.  We now have the ability to test our patients for COVID19 during a sick visit evaluation.  If you feel that you do not need an in-person evaluation, but want to be tested, go to https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus , or United Way 211 (211ct.org)

The virus is thought to be transmitted from person to person, either by direct contact, by contact with the virus through sneezing and coughing and by contact with the virus on surfaces that were contaminated by infected persons. To prevent contracting the disease, practice social distancing. This means stay home whenever you can, only leaving home to perform essential tasks, especially if you are over 65 and/or have multiple medical problems.
Testing for the COVID-19 virus has been challenging but there are now centers that are testing if you fit the criteria. A new Rapid COVID-19 test will be available in a few weeks to test in the office.
In most cases, COVID-19 does not cause serious illness.  It typically lasts for 7 to 14 days; once diagnosed with COVID-19, or if in intimate contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19,  It is advised that patients self-isolate for 2 weeks. Like any illness, the virus can make you more susceptible to other infections, such as  another viral infection or a bacterial infection.  Generally a physician can distinguish a bacterial infection such as sinusitis, pneumonia, otitis media and strep throat from a virus infection through a patient's history, examination and testing.
 
The following are general measures to make you feel better:
 
1.  Get more rest, do not go to work or school if you have a fever.  Rest at home and go to bed early.
 
2.  Drink more fluids.  Chicken soup is a good example and it has anti-inflammatory properties. Also use water, juices,  teas and other clear nutritious fluids to try to flush the virus
out of your system.  Also, good hydration helps the body fight the infection and thin the mucus secretions, so the body can get rid of them.
 
3.   Flush out the virus or bacteria by using saline nose spray - 2 sprays each nostril frequently initially until feeling better,, then 2- 3 times per day thereafter. Take steamy showers to break up mucus.  Use a humidifier in the bedroom at night or in the room where you spend most of the day.  Consider Vicks vapor rub, either the plug-in type or the type that can be rubbed on the chest.
 
4.  A runny nose and congestion may improve with the use of decongestants, such as Sudafed (pseudoephedrine), as long as you do not have a history of hypertension or have side effects such as palpitations due to decongestants.  Antihistamines such as Claritin, Zyrtec, or Benadryl may also help but have side effects such as drowsiness and drying of the eyes nose and mouth.  Antihistamines may be helpful if the underlying problem is allergy.
 
5.  A steroid nasal inhaler (some are over the counter such as Rhinocort and Flonase) may be helpful to reduce the inflammation in the nose and the congestion, especially if allergies are the main problem
 
6.  A medication to break up mucus is important at times.  Such medications gently have guaifenesin as the active ingredient.  Mucinex is a well known example. Mucinex D has a long acting decongestant combined with it. Often take the 12 hr Mucinex D during the day and plain Mucinex at night to prevent the insomnia that the "D" or decongestant can cause.  (Ask the pharmacist for the Mucinex D "behind the counter" as it has the better active ingredient.)
 
7.  For muscle aches and pains, sore throat, and for fever, recent information shows that it is better to use acetaminophen (Tylenol) rather than ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve).  Ibuprofen and naproxen could help the fever and aches, but may be associated with prolonging the course of the Coronavirus illness.
 
8.  For cough, usually humidified air, steamy showers, teas, tea with honey, cough drops, or products such as Vicks VapoRub work well.  Other over-the-counter cough medications that could be used usually have a combination of guaifenesin and dextromethorphan such as Mucinex DM, Delsym, or Robitussin-DM.
 
9.  All over-the-counter medications should be taking as indicated on their label.
 
10.  To prevent spread of the infection, it is important to have good hand washing with soap and water.  Hands should be washed often, and it is important not to touch your eyes nose or mouth when in contact with others who are ill. Also, it is important to self-isolate.  This means to stay at home. Do not work, go to grocery stores, restaurants, bars or other places of social gatherings.
 
11.  Antibiotics are used only if there seems to be a bacterial complication.
 
12. If sudden worsening of symptoms, such as unremitting high fever along with a bad cough and shortness of breath, seek health care immediately. Go directly to an emergency room, or call 911.

East Granby Family Practice, in conjunction with SOHO Health, is working closely with World Health Organization (WHO) the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to stay current on COVID-19 and its impacts. In an effort to help you stay safe and current with the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, SOHO Health has created a web page for information and resources. The page is a repository for information and resources including patient materials available for download and printing, practice resources and helpful links. We encourage you to visit the page often as information will be regularly updated.

Contact Info

 Phone

Emergencies 911

Non-Emergencies 860-653-4526

After hours, press 0 for our on-call doctor

FAX

833-471-6186

860-653-5209

Address

13 Church St

East Granby, CT 06026

About Us

 

EGFP, LLC is a full service medical office that provides both preventive care for children and adults, and medical treatment of pediatric and adult patients for chronic medical problems and acute illnesses. The providers perform office surgery, dermatological procedures, pulmonary function tests, radiological tests, electrocardiograms, immunizations, phlebotomy, audiology tests, and tympanography.  We service the communities north of Hartford, Connecticut and in south central Massachusetts.

 

The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.