Our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

What is Cadena Family Practice doing to help ensure the health and safety of our patients?

Enhanced Safety Measurements

• All individuals entering CFP are required to wear a mask or face covering.
• An appropriate face covering is defined as a type of material that covers both  mouth and nose.
• The mask or face covering must be worn correctly (covering both mouth and nose) at ALL TIMES while in the clinic.
• To promote appropriate etiquette for coughing, sneezing, and handwashing, CFP provides tissues, no-touch trash cans, soap and water, and hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol for use by all individuals entering the clinic.
• Signs (both English and Spanish) are posted on the entrance that state if an individual is experiencing symptoms such as fever or chills, cough, shortness of breathe or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea, our company's protocol enforces that the individual does not enter the clinic.
  • The individual should returns to their vehicle, and calls or texts (830)-775-8700 to notify our staff who will provide the individual with further instructions.
• Individuals who are seen in-office by our providers or nurse-encounter type visits are asked our company's screening questions to mitigate possible exposures to COVID-19.
  • If an individual answers yes to any screening question, our staff will follow our company's protocol and the individual may be asked to reschedule their appointment to a later date or a telemedicine appointment. 
• All individuals who are seen in office by our providers or nurse-encounter type visits will have their temperature screened prior to entering pass the lobby.
  • If an individual has a measured temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, our staff will following our company's protocol and the individual may be asked to return to their vehicle and their appointment will be changed from an in-office visit to a drive-up or in-vehicle visit. 

For more information from the CDC on Symptoms of COVID-19, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

For more information from the CDC on Masks, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

Enforced Sanitization Protocols

• Hand sanitizer and handwashing stations are available for all individuals entering CFP.
• The locations of the hand sanitizer and handwashing stations can be viewed on the map of CFP for designated sanitization and handwashing stations.

For more information from the CDC on Handwashing, visit https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html

For more information from the CDC on Hand Sanitizer, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/hand-sanitizer.html

Disinfection of High Touch Surfaces

• All high-touch surfaces are disinfected appropriately and according to clinic protocol.
• After each patient is seen, the exam room is disinfected.
• Signs located in the lobby inform patients that appointment wait times may be longer than usual due to safety precautions to ensure thorough disinfection.

For more information from the CDC on Cleaning and Disinfecting, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/disinfecting-your-home.html#disinfect

Telemedicine Appointments

• CFP offers our patients the opportunity to schedule a telemedicine appointment in order to have access to their provider from the security and safety of their home or designated visit originating site.
• To schedule a telemedicine appointment, patients are required to sign the telemedicine informed consent form prior to their appointment.
• Instructions are given to patients by staff in detail ahead of the telemedicine appointment in order to facilitate the process.

Social Distancing Standards

• The lobby has a limited number of chairs (10) that are spaced out appropriately 6 feet apart.
• Social distancing floor decals are affixed in the lobby 6 feet apart to indicate where to stand when physical barriers are not possible.
• Patients are given the option to call or text 830-775-8700 to check in for their appointments instead of having to stand in line in the lobby.
• For appointment-time slots, if the lobby seating area is full, or if patients do not feel comfortable waiting in the lobby seating area, patients can choose to wait in their vehicles until it is their turn to have their labs drawn by phlebotomist or an exam room is open for nurse/ provider evaluation.
• Patients who do not feel comfortable coming into the clinic, to pick up or drop off paperwork, are also able to contact the receptionists, by call or text option, to have a CFP employee bring their paperwork, including but not limited to referrals, prescriptions, etc., to their vehicle.
• Certain nurse-encounter type visits are accomplished in patient vehicles as ordered by providers (fingerstick blood checks, quick-swab lab tests, etc.).

For more information from the CDC on Social Distancing, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html

Education

• CFP takes the necessary steps in order to educate the patients about to protect themselves daily.
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention educational posters and flyers are placed in appropriate areas (lobby, exam rooms, bathrooms, entrances and exits) where they are likely to be seen.
• Posters, flyers, and signs for non-English speakers are also posted as needed throughout the clinic.
• CDC Printable Resources, in both English and Spanish, are available for patients to take with them for later references.

When To Seek Emergency Medical Attention?

Call 911 

If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

• Trouble Breathing
• Persistent Pain or Pressure in the Chest
• New Confusion
• Inability to Wake or Stay Awake
• Bluish Lips or Face

*This list is not all possible symptoms.

If you have any symptoms that are severe or concerning to you, please call or text our office at (830)-775-8700.

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© 2021