At Premier Medical Group we want to encourage our patients to make positive steps to protect you and your family’s health because this is not the time to put health care on hold. In fact, it is essential that you maintain your regular visits to give you the greatest chance of continued health. We are offering a full range of care both in-person and through telemedicine. Your health and safety are our highest priority and we have planned your experience with extra precautions to minimize any risk to you or our valued staff members.
Here are the important things to remember to keep healthy:
Don’t delay your checkups
There’s a reason why regular physical checkups are a good idea – they are the cornerstone of preventive medicine. When you and your provider communicate, each side is making informed decisions. During checkups important milestones in your health can be monitored and explored. It’s a great time to perform screenings, to give adults and children their vaccinations, and make sure that patients with ongoing chronic conditions have all the help they need to feel well.
But what about the pandemic?
Because of what is happening across the country and in the world since COVID-19, many people have delayed care. Yet right now in New York State and in the Hudson River valley, the coronavirus is more under control and we all hope to keep it like that. Premier Medical Group is taking thorough precautions to ensure that our patients are protected with social distancing, structured appointments, plus the opportunity to have telemedicine appointments. You and your provider and all of our staff will be masked.
Managing chronic conditions and screening for serious illness
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with underlying medical conditions are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. People of any age with the following conditions are at greater risk:
- Anxiety or depression
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
- Diabetes or prediabetes
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- Weakened immune system
There are many other conditions that make someone more vulnerable to coronavirus.
For people with these conditions, continuing the process of managing your illness is vital. Ensuring that you keep your regular appointments is the key to preventing you from getting very sick from COVID-19.
The American Cancer Society reports that there has been a “substantial decline in cancer screening” in the months between March and July 2020. These screenings are designed to detect cancer in apparently healthy people. It is good to discuss with your physician when tests for colorectal, prostate, breast and cervical cancers should be conducted and the safest way to proceed with them.
Visits to your internal medicine doctor are essential to your wellness
It is the role of your internal medicine primary care doctor to help you understand and manage the parts of your wellness that encourage a healthy immune system. If you don’t have an internal medicine doctor, now is an excellent time to find one. At Premier Medical Group we have internal medicine primary care doctors who are accepting new patients and who will be happy to help you work on improving your overall health, your immune system and your feeling of wellbeing.
Your provider can facilitate screenings or immunizations and bloodwork so that you can have only the in-person visits that you need. Video visits can supplement in-person visits and we’ve taken steps to minimize the number of patients we see at one time, applied physical distancing to waiting areas and take you in to see the provider as soon as possible.
When you visit Premier Medical Group offices, you are safe and cared for
We have been working with local and state health departments and following the latest CDC guidelines to ensure a healthy and safe environment for patients and staff. Premier offices are monitoring patients’ temperatures and requiring facemasks be worn by all patients and staff upon entrance to our offices. We are also practicing social distancing and sanitizing all surfaces on a frequent basis.
Call your local Premier Medical Group office and make an appointment today. You’ll feel better knowing that you are taking control of your health.