Quincy Reporter

Quincy Medical Group issued the following announcement on March 20.

Quincy Medical Group will remain open as an essential business based on the shelter-in-place order issued by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker today. For at least the next two weeks, in-person visits will be for urgent needs only. Non-urgent in-person appointments will be rescheduled; urgent needs will be determined by the providers and their patients. QMG providers will also continue to see patients for appointments related to workers compensation claims. Virtual, or Telehealth, visits will continue to be available.

Earlier this week, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced significant changes to Telehealth requirements effective immediately in response to the COVID-19 national emergency. Telehealth services were previously only available to rural clinics if patients were physically present. During this time, CMS waived this requirement allowing patients to receive services from their homes instead.

QMG Chief Medical Officer Dr. Richard Schlepphorst said the use of Telehealth is another line of defense against COVID-19, enabling patients to practice social distancing and reduce exposure.

“For patients in need of medical treatment who do not want to, or cannot, leave their homes, Telehealth is an effective option,” he stated. “During these Telehealth visits, if patients are determined to need further evaluation, our healthcare providers can coordinate those next steps.”

Patients may be seen for any diagnosis, not just COVID-19 related concerns.

Telehealth can be delivered via video conference, smartphone, or landline phone call.

To find out if your QMG provider is offering Telehealth services, call his or her office directly, or visit our Telehealth website at https://quincymedgroup.com/telehealth/. Your provider’s office will provide you with instructions on how to access this service.

If patients are not exhibiting flu-like symptoms and plan to see their provider in-person, QMG has implemented screening processes at entrances to screen patients and visitors throughout QMG business hours. Patients are screened for fever (take temperatures), cough, respiratory symptoms, and/or shortness of breath. If patients have symptoms or have a temperature, we will ask them to return to their cars and call our QMG Hotline (217-277-4001) for additional screening.

Visit quincymedgroup.com/coronavirus for additional information about COVID-19.

Original source can be found here.