COVID-19 POLICY

MIDWEST ANESTHESIA AND PAIN SPECIALISTS, S.C.
CORONAVIRUS PATIENT POLICIES

UPDATE May 1, 2020:

As of May 1st, everyone in the state of Illinois will be required to wear a face mask (or bandana or cloth covering) when they are in public places and where social distancing is not possible. The greater we comply, the better chance we have at reducing the transmission of COVID-19. We are still continuing to treat patients in the clinic and via telemedicine and are undergoing every requirement and effort to provide quality care in the safest way possible. To watch the full order, click here.

UPDATE March 26, 2020:

To our patients,

With COVID-19 developing daily, our physicians will be treating patients by telemedicine (video), telephone, and in-person appointments. Patient care is so critical at this time, and we want to make sure that all of your concerns and issues are addressed the best we can. At a time of social distancing, we will still be there for our patients and help them through their pain management to the best of our abilities. Please call our clinic to make your appointment – after discussing your condition with you we will determine whether a tele visit or in-person appointment with a physician is best.

If you are on medication, rest assured that we can refill your prescriptions with a telemedicine appointment as well. Developments with COVID-19 are changing daily and we are keeping a close eye on these developments. Be sure to follow us on social media to make sure you are updated on our latest.

To Book your appointment, call our clinic at 773-482-5800

UPDATE March 21, 2020:

During this time, MAPS is still OPEN and serving our patients with extra precautions in place to minimize the risk of coronavirus. With a Stay-At-Home order commencing at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 21st, 2020 in the state of Illinois, we want to remind our patients that they may come in and continue to get their treatments. For most of our patients, ongoing, regular care is required in order to see full results and achieve long-term pain relief. We understand that our patients deserve to continue their treatments and rely on our team to help them manage their chronic pain.

If you have an appointment with us and are feeling unwell, please call our clinic to make alternate arrangements.

MAPS PATIENTS

Accordingly, for so long as MAPS is allowed to and is able to remain open, we will be adhering to the following policies and precautions for the protection of our patients and staff.

1. Patient Screening

a. For so long as MAPS continues to remain open for business, MAPS will be contacting patients prior to their scheduled office visits and/or procedures in order to confirm their health status as recommended by the CDC. Any patient who has contracted the Coronavirus or is presenting with COVID-19 symptoms will be rescheduled to a future date. Moreover, any patient who falls into a “high risk” category, including any patient who has travelled to a known coronavirus “hotspot,” even if they are asymptomatic, will be asked to reschedule their appointments for a period of at least fourteen (14) days.

b. Patients who show up to MAPS clinics for a scheduled appointment will be screened per CDC guidelines to determine whether they are presenting with any Coronavirus symptoms (fever, cough and/or shortness of breath). Any patient presenting with such symptoms will be asked to leave and their appointments will be rescheduled to a future date.

c. Out of an abundance of caution, MAPS will recommend that any patient over the age of 65, as well as any patient with known immunocompromised conditions (such as asthma or diabetes) will be encouraged to reschedule their appointments to a future date.

2. Continuing Patient Care.

a. If patients require continuing care, including refills of prescriptions, and are required or recommended to reschedule their appointments, MAPS will offer such patients the opportunity to have a telephonic consultation with a MAPS provider, solely for the purpose of determining the appropriateness of continuing patients care or medications until such time as the patient can be physically seen by a MAPS provider. All such telephonic consultations and prescription refills shall be conducted in accordance with all IDPH, DEA or other applicable regulations.

b. To the extent that a patient requires emergency care prior to being rescheduled for an appointment with a MAPS provider, such patient will be referred to a location for COVID-19 screening and/or testing, or, if necessary, to an emergency care facility.
3. Cleaning Protocols.

a. MAPS always follows the highest level of sanitation of its facilities, in accordance with OSHA and other applicable guidelines. However, we will enhance all such measures to protect our patients, staff and the community at large against unnecessary risks associated with the coronavirus. Such measures will include vigorous cleaning and sanitizing of all surfaces and equipment at all of its medical clinics and facilities.

b. For so long as MAPS continues to remain open for business, MAPS will require all patients to thoroughly wash their hands prior to accessing MAPS facilities, in order to mitigate the risk of coronavirus spread to other patients, staff members or the community at large.

4. Staff Screening.

a. For so long as MAPS continues to remain open for business, MAPS will actively screen all staff members to mitigate the risk of exposing our patients and other staff members to the Coronavirus.

b. Any MAPS staff member who is sick or otherwise presents with Coronavirus symptoms will not be permitted to work at any MAPS facility until such time as they are no longer symptomatic.

c. We recognize that this may result in delays and/or disruption of patient care, and request our patients’ understanding as we implement these necessary procedures to mitigate the risk of Coronavirus spread.

5. Additional Resources.

a. Patients are encouraged to visit the CDC website (www.cdc.gov) to obtain additional information regarding the Coronavirus, including up to date information regarding the status of the spread of the disease, as well as guidelines for preventing and treating affected patients.

b. If patients are unsure of any of the above policies and procedures, please contact MAPS at 773-482-5800 for further information. However, at least until we have a better understanding of the Coronavirus disease and the potential for further infections, MAPS encourages patients to err on the side of caution, both for their own safety and for the protection of the community at large.

6. Modification and Waiver. The understanding of the Coronavirus outbreak is rapidly evolving. MAPS will continue to monitor the situation, as well as any changes to the recommendations of the CDC and other experts regarding the best practices for mitigating this disruptive epidemic. Accordingly, this Policy may be amended from time to time by MAPS as circumstances change. Please check out our website (www.mwpain.com) for any updates regarding MAPS status and our policies for protecting our patients, staff and the community during this unprecedented crisis.

Effective March 21, 2020

Sincerely,

MIDWEST ANESTHESIA AND PAIN SPECIALISTS, S.C.

We Are Here For You - Let Us Help Relieve Your Pain Today