Community Update – April 30, 2020

A Message from RCMS on our Procedures to
Keep you Safe During Your Visit to Our Clinics

We would like to reassure our community that we are taking all necessary steps to make sure that our providers, staff and patients are protected during medical visits.

Please remember, medical visits are considered “essential business” under the shelter in place orders. Don’t delay if you need day-to-day or emergent medical care. Our sites in Gualala and Point Arena are open.

We are here for you. Call before you come at (707) 884-4005.

What you need to know:

RCMS is following all guidelines and orders from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), State Health Department and Mendocino County Public Health.

RCMS team members are consistently being updated by Mendocino County Public Health. The staff is briefed every morning about any changes from the day before as to new protocols and any new or expanded orders from County Public Health Officer.

All providers, staff and volunteers take temperatures at the beginning of their shifts and before leaving work for the day. If they are not feeling well or have an elevated temperature, they are evaluated in our Urgent Care. Any staff person with symptoms of respiratory illness is tested for COVID19 and sent home to self-isolate until their test results return; they are also required to remain at home for 72 hours after their symptoms have resolved – following recommendations of the CDC and Health Department.

All of our providers and clinical staff wear masks in all areas of the clinic and the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when seeing patients. All staff members wash their hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer, prior to any patient encounter. If you did not notice your care provider washing their hands prior to your visit, please feel free to ask them to do so.

RCMS is working to reduce risk of exposure to patients with respiratory illness by maintaining two “non-respiratory clinics”, one at the Sea Watch building (across from the main Gualala clinic) and the other in Point Arena. At these locations we do not admit any patients with fever, cough or cold symptoms. Patients temperatures are checked before entering these facilities and patients are required to wear facial coverings. We try to move patients directly into examination rooms instead of having them wait in the waiting room. We also give patients the option of waiting in their cars until an exam room has opened up. If patients sit in waiting rooms, they are asked to maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing and are required to wear cloth masks. Patients with cough/cold/fever symptoms are directed into exam rooms and do not sit with others in waiting rooms.

• The triage tent outside of the main clinic is for intake and temperature checks. The Gualala Clinic is now divided into non-respiratory complaints/symptom patients and upper respiratory symptom patients. After initial intake, patients are guided by staff to the appropriate area of the clinic.
• Rooms are sanitized between patients just like they have been in the past.
• RCMS recently had ventilation upgrades in all exam rooms used for respiratory patients. Mobile HEPA filtration devices are also available.
• When patients call in for appointment, they are offered a choice for face-to-face or the opportunity to have their appointment by video call or telephone call, if appropriate for their situation. All of our medical providers are offering telephone visits and some are offering video conference calls.
• All patients, and those accompanying them, have their temperature taken before entering any of the clinic sites. Patients with fever are only allowed into the Gualala clinic, and only into areas designated for patients with fevers. They are not allowed to sit in waiting rooms with other patients.
• All patients, and those accompanying them, are required to wear a fabric facial covering before entering any of the clinic sites If they arrive in without one, they are given one. Patients with respiratory complaints are only allowed to be accompanied by one family member; family members may be asked to wait outside or in a vehicle to avoid exposure to the patient in a closed space.
• Recommended physical distancing is still maintained in any waiting areas. If the patient load becomes too congested for the waiting room, patients will be directed to return to their car and wait to be escorted in.
• Laboratory blood draws are still being done at RCMS, including in the “non-respiratory” clinics (Sea Watch and Point Arena) by appointment only, including orders from outside providers. Please call (707) 884-4005 for appointment scheduling and additional requirements.

If you have any questions on our safety protocols or need additional information, please call (707) 884-4005. We are proud of our entire RCMS team for their flexibility and effort during these unique times.

Primary Care and Urgent Care are Open
PLEASE CALL BEFORE YOU COME (707) 884-4005

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