Coronavirus

Message to Patients

Dear Heart Spring Health Community,

In this difficult and confusing time, we want to let you know our goal is to continue supporting radiant health for our patients and community and doing our part to minimize the spread of illness. We have adjusted several clinic policies and procedures.

This is a very important time to focus on all aspects of your health.  If you haven’t been in for a visit or had a visit via telehealth, now truly is a good time to work on your immune health as well as any other chronic condition that may leave your body feeling less than optimal. Please schedule with one of our providers now.

We are honored to care for you during this unprecedented time and are deeply grateful for your trust. Do not hesitate to schedule a virtual visit with one of our naturopathic physicians if you have any questions or concerns.

In Health,

The Heart Spring Health Team

PS Anyone in Oregon can establish care via a new patient telemedicine visit.  To book a new patient appointment, please complete our online form or call us at (503) 956-9396.

New Policies & Procedures

1. Streamlined communication with staff (see sidebar at right)
2. Covid Testing
3. Tele-medicine (video) visits for safe and direct access to all providers
4. Carefully managed on-site clinic visits to prevent virus spread

COVID Testing

Many of our patients have asked about antibody testing for COVID-19. Antibody testing tells us if your immune system has been exposed and developed a response to the new coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2. A few of the companies we work with are offering antibody testing, each of these companies have sent us information on the quality of their testing. We have reviewed the information and are only choosing to use specific companies that meet our standards for giving you information you can trust. The test will help determine whether you have had exposure and developed immune antibodies specifically to the new coronavirus. Understanding your exposure, if interpreted and explained with the help of a qualified health care profession, may help us lessen the spread of the new coronavirus, as well as protect your health. A member of our Heart Spring Health team would do these blood draws for you by either having you come to the office and/or having a phlebotomist come to you.

Heart Spring Health is still administering COVID-19 testing you if you wish to know if you have currently contracted the new coronavirus, in some cases whether you are symptomatic or not. If you are symptomatic, increased accuracy of your results can be achieved by doing both PCR and antibody testing together. If you are interested in any of the COVID testing we invite you to schedule a brief virtual visit with us to decide the best route of testing for your situation.

Tele-Health (Virtual Video) Visits

With video conferencing, you will be able to communicate with your provider face-to-face from the safety of your home. Many of our patients have already reported the joy and relief of getting needed guidance and interaction over video. Even providers offering massage, energy work, or acupuncture can support you virtually.

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services are requiring all insurance companies to cover these virtual visits just like in-person visits, and new federal laws may allow high-deductible plans to cover tele-health visits prior to reaching the deductible. Please inquire with your insurance so you know their coverage policies for virtual visits.

On-Site Clinic Visits

To prevent the transmission of illness while prioritizing optimal health of each patient, on site visits are scheduled on an individual basis only. We need to determine each patient is symptom free and can be seen on site so as to reduce exposure of the virus and will do this through screening prior to your appointment.

On site visits will be conducted under additional precautions to protect the health of all:

• When you arrive for your appointment, please wait outside and call the clinic.
  
• Your provider will meet you at the front door of the building with personal protective equipment. We ask that you wear a mask and sanitize your hands upon entry into the building.
• Your provider will escort you from the building front door directly to the treatment room. We kindly ask that you avoid touching any surfaces as you walk through the building.
• You will have limited contact with other clinic employees during your appointment, and we have installed plexiglass barriers at reception.

If you are picking up supplements, tinctures, labs, etc:

• Please call the clinic the day of to confirm the time you will arrive.
• When you arrive, call the clinic from outside the building.
• Staff will bring your order out to you.

Please call us before an upcoming appointment if you’ve had any symptoms or potential COVID exposure. It is important to report any of the following symptoms even if you believe they are because of some other medical condition. Possible symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
  diarrhea

Links & Resources

• CDC Coronavirus Page
• Oregon Coronavirus Page
• Oregon COVID-19 insurance and financial services information for consumers
• Multnomah County Coronavirus Page
• Portland Coronavirus Page
• NY Times – Masks Work. Really. We’ll Show You How
• NY Times – This 3-D Simulation Shows Why Social Distancing Is So Important

Articles About Coronavirus