Tennessee Regenerative Sports Medicine: “East Tennessee’s leader in Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine (IROM)”
COVID-19 UPDATE
To the Tennessee Regenerative Sports Medicine patients and your guests:
During this time of growing concern, we believe it is our role and responsibility to prioritize the health and well-being of our patients. Like you, we are closely following the news and monitoring the Coronavirus’ impact on our community and public health.
Here is the latest information regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), directly from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization:
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) which is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.
Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, patient’s should contact their doctor and their doctor should help decide if hospitalization is necessary.
People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms of the disease should self-quarantine at home and avoid going into a public places. It is OK to cancel your appointment if you develop any symptoms of the virus. You will not be charged a cancellation fee and you will be offered a new appointment at least two weeks past your appointment date.
This week we have upgraded the cleaning service that disinfects “touch points”: door handles, light switches, surfaces that the public would come in contact with, non-cloth chairs; break room cabinet handles, exterior of appliances, payment machine surfaces and panels, hand rails and railings in stair wells etc. This level of cleaning will be conducted along with each normal schedule cleanings until the Coronavirus is no longer a threat to our health and safety.
Dr. Carlson fully plans to treat his patients during this uncertain time. We will be following CDC and WHO guidelines of frequent hand washing and will wear gloves during any treatments rendered during your visit. If you are of higher risk over the age of 50 and/ or have any comorbidities especially lung disease, heart disease, infectious diseases like chronic Lyme or any immune compromised state, please remind Dr Carlson, and he will gladly offer you a mask as well as we will wear masks until the public health threat of Coronavirus has passed.
We encourage all patients and their guests to follow these best practices to help keep yourself and others healthy:
- Vigorously wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If you cannot use soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60%-95% alcohol immediately after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty. Watch video: “What You Need To Know About Handwashing”
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Stay home when you are feeling under the weather or sick. Avoid people that you know are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Avoid shaking hands. We all recognize that it is a standard greeting, but during this period of growing concerns a simple wave, fist bump, elbow bump or verbal greeting is not only acceptable but preferred by most.
- Clean your surfaces frequently, cell phones, computers, remotes and other items that can collect a lot of germs.
Tennessee Regenerative Sports Medicine is following all the necessary guidelines set forth by the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) to best protect our patients. Your health and safety is our top priority.
Yours in health,
Dr. J. Michael Carlson, D.O.
This website is used for information only and does not serve as an endorsement of any kind by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Medicine.
TN Images purchased from Associated Press Images. Special thanks to Chris Early at Early Video Productions
