Doctors to patients: our offices are safe from coronavirus

Physicians in hospitals and local practices are concerned that their patients are avoiding appointments out of fears of catching the novel coronavirus.

But in the Raleigh and Durham areas, doctors are eager to spread the message that it’s safe to come back.

Emergency room doctors at UNC Health told WRAL they’re seeing a drop in emergency room visits that aren’t related to COVID-19. The hospitals have systems in place for keeping patients safe from coronavirus, they said.

Patients are given surgical masks and separated if they have respiratory issues, or symptoms related to coronavirus, said Dr. Abhi Mehrotra, a medical director for UNC Health.

“We encourage seeking care for our patients if you need it,” he said. “We’ve prepared with appreciate safety and social distancing measures.”

News clips of overcrowded hospitals in big cities like New York aren’t representative of what’s happening in North Carolina.

“I do feel very fortunate that we were not like New York City or other areas that were hit very hard very fast,” said Dr. Ryan Lamb, a medical director of emergency medicine at REX Hospital in Raleigh.

“We really had months of planning for us to be ready for patients to come,” Lamb said. “So our processes have been fine-tuned for that.”

Cary Pediatrics is sending patients to different offices depending on their condition. Those who aren’t sick can come to the Cary office, while those who might be sick are sent to the group’s Apex office.

Still, fears over the coronavirus caused routine care visits to drop about 35 percent, according to Dr. Hope Seidel.

“We need everyone to be as healthy as possible, as vaccinated as possible,” Seidel said. “We're in this for the long haul so keeping our children healthy and supporting families is our highest priority.”

Sara King brought her 17-year-old daughter to an appointment after speaking with office representatives beforehand.

“I was assured on the phone that they sanitize and do all those things and that this is a well-center,” King said. “I felt secure bringing my child because I think it's important to keep up with their well visits, blood work, whatever needs to be done.”

Seidel says nurses at Cary Pediatrics triage patients over the phone before their visits. The staff wears masks, washes and sanitizes their hands frequently and encourages patients to do the same. The office also restricts the number of people inside. The Cary office allows one parent per child.

“We're not only protecting our patients against the coronavirus,” Seidel said. “We're trying to continue to be a medical home and a haven for our patients when they need well-care and vaccines.”