Woodlands Medical Specialists & COVID-19

Woodlands COVID-19 Policy

Woodlands Medical Specialists remains open and continues to closely monitoring the COVID-19 virus. We strongly encourage patients who are NOT experiencing flu-like symptoms to continue with their prescribed treatment regimen and to practice good hygiene and limit social encounters.

If you are experiencing symptoms of a cough, fever or difficulty breathing, or if you fear you may have been exposed to the coronavirus, please do not come into the office before calling your Woodlands provider. Your health care provider will be able to provide you with further instructions by phone.

How To Prepare For Your Visit

We have implemented more stringent safety procedures in an effort to keep our patients and staff safe and limit exposure to illness. Please prepare for your upcoming appointment by taking the following steps:

• All patients and guests must wear a face covering prior to entering the facility. Face coverings are required at all times while inside the building.
• Arrive 10 minutes earlier to your appointment and be prepared to complete our COVID-19 screening questionnaire
• Limit the amount of guests you bring to your appointment to 1.  In an effort to limit the amount of people gathered inside our practice, we have removed the additional seating from our waiting areas.
• Please make other arrangements for children during the time of your appointment.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as coughing, fever and shortness of breath, call your Woodlands provider prior to your appointment: (850) 696-4000.
• If you have been tested for the COVID-19 virus within the last 2 weeks, please bring your test results with you to your appointment. 

How Woodlands Is Responding To The Virus

The safety of our patients and employees is our number one concern. We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 virus and are staying up-to-date on the on the latest news and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We have emphasized an array of preventative measures to protect our patients and staff from exposure to illness. In addition to screening all guests prior to entering our facility, we have also:

• Implemented an internal COVID-19 task force that is continuing to closely monitor the situation.
• Implemented mandatory, regular screenings for all employees, contractors and vendors.
• Placed alcohol-based hand sanitizers throughout our practice for patient and employees to use frequently, in addition to handwashing.
• Implemented more stringent and frequent anti-viral cleaning of all surfaces within all practice locations including the removal of unnecessary modes of transmission (such as magazines in waiting areas).
• Mandated that all employees feeling unwell stay home.
• Mandated that all employees wear facemasks.
• Asked that all patients experiencing symptoms of the COVID-19 virus stay home from their appointment and contact their primary care provider for additional instructions.

Symptoms Of COVID-19

Symptoms of the COVID-19 virus are similar to the flu and typically appear 2-14 days after exposure.  Some of the symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore Throat
• Shortness of Breath
• Fatigue
• Muscle Aches or Pains
• Nasal Congestion
• Runny Nose
• Diarrhea

The CDC recommends that patients exhibiting symptoms of the COVID-19 virus isolate themselves for a period of 14 days to prevent infecting others and consult a physician.

Trusted Resources

We urge you to turn to trusted, reliable sources for information about COVID-19, to help you avoid misinformation. It is important to understand the facts to avoid unnecessary or misplaced fear. We recommend these websites:

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: Coronavirus

World Health Organization: Coronavirus

National Cancer Institute: What People with Cancer Should Know

U.S. Food & Drug Administration: Message to Cancer Patients