Coronavirus, COVID-19, preparing for medical appointments.

Coronavirus Concerns: Medical Confidence wants to help you be prepared

Posted March 13, 2020

As a patient in the healthcare system, you may have questions about the COVID-19 virus. We help you find reliable sources of information relating to this virus and the potential impact this may have on your appointments and treatment. Canada’s Public Health Agency (PHAC) indicates that the risk of contracting the virus remains low to Canadians, but they have created a factsheet to help you be prepared: Click here to access the factsheet.

Common symptoms of the COVID-19 virus include fever, tiredness and dry cough. In addition, some might experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and/or diarrhea. We encourage anyone who displays these symptoms to seek medical advice.

At Medical Confidence, we also believe in being proactive and want to help you effectively manage your day to day and prepare for any upcoming medical appointments you may have in the coming weeks. Below is a short check list for you to review before you attend your next appointment.

Checklist

Before you go to your appointments:

Consider whether you are experiencing any flu like symptoms – if you are sneezing or coughing or feeling feverish. If yes, please re-schedule your appointment. Do not go to the hospital or doctor’s office under these circumstances but rather contact your primary care provider by email or phone or Provincial Health Authority by phone (see below for the appropriate telephone numbers to call) to learn what next steps to take.

Contact your doctor’s, specialist’s or clinic’s office to find out if they have any specific prevention protocols that you need to be aware of before your appointment.

General Day to Day Practices to Consider:

For the most effective prevention of the spread of the virus, you can follow these simple day to day practices:

Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Keep your hands away from your face, because germs routinely spread when a person touches something contaminated with germs, and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth
Avoid contact with people who are sick

Since the virus is spread by contact, consider avoiding large crowds at this time:

Do your grocery shopping at off-peak hours
Commute by public transit outside of the busy rush hour
Opt to exercise outdoors instead of in an indoor fitness class
Renew and refill prescriptions ahead of time

Continue to ensure a boosted immune system for your overall health and well-being:

Get plenty of sleep
Drink plenty of fluids
Eat healthy foods that support your immune system
Take your vitamins. B6, C, D and E have shown to boost your immune function. Please consult your primary health provider prior to starting any new supplements.

We want to support your peace of mind during this time and understand that information on this outbreak can be overwhelming. Remember to take a break from social media and the news now and then, and stick to reliable sources of information to help you stay properly informed.

Please keep checking the Canadian or your Provincial Government websites for information and updates regarding the COVID-19 to help you stay informed.