COVID-19

COVID-19 Information Page

We are here for you during this very difficult and unprecedented time.  We are open and our doctors are available to you.  Our doctors are working hard to stay up to date on prevention, testing, and treatment strategies pertaining to COVID-19 and are available to help you navigate the abundance of information (and, often mis-information) that is coming at you through the media.

Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay-at-home” order (in effect until May 4, 2020), and Proclamation 20-05 (in effect until May, 18, 2020), which places restrictions on non-urgent medical care, has changed how we are doing this.  The following policy has been created in accordance with these orders.  Our office is open and doctors are available via telemedicine and in person on a case by case basis.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine is available for the following:

1. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (see information below). We will schedule a same day appointment to evaluate you and facilitate testing and treatment.
2. To answer any questions you may have regarding COVID-19.
3. To continue coordinating your care for chronic health concerns.
4. To evaluate you for new illnesses or concerns.

In-office visits

In-office visits will be available on a case by case basis for patients on current treatment protocols, or who need to be evaluated in person and who have first been screened by telemedicine.  If you have arranged to come into the office for evaluation or treatment, please follow the guidelines below for Social-Distancing in the clinical setting.

Social-Distancing Procedures at ECIM:

1. All appointments that can be, will be converted to telemedicine or postponed until after May 18, 2020.
2. IV appointments will be limited so that no more than one person is in a room at the same time. We recognize all of our IV therapy patients benefit from treatment, yet at this time can only accommodate a limited number of IV’s.  Priority will be given to patients undergoing active treatment for chronic Lyme or similar, who will have regression of the disease without treatment or who need treatment to manage day to day symptoms.
3. Blood draws will be performed when medically necessary to monitor safety of treatment, but you may be asked to do a telemedicine appointment and come in for a blood draw at a different time.
4. Injection therapies (Prolozone, PRP, B12) will be available for patients who need them to manage symptoms or pain, or prevent progression of an illness or injury.
5. If you are coming in for an appointment, we will ask you to wait in your car until we are ready for you, at which time we will call you to come into the office. We may ask to measure your temperature outside prior to entering the clinic. We ask that you come in, sanitize or wash your hands and go directly to the exam or IV room.
6. Please wear a mask, if you have one. We have a limited supply available, if you do not.  This will help protect you and our doctors and staff.
7. The front desk staff is here to facilitate payment and scheduling, but we ask that as much of this as possible be done via phone before or after your appointment.
8. During this time, we are going paperless as much as possible. We have facilitated this through our electronic health records program, Charm.  The patient portal, which is easy to sign-up for, allows you to scan in medical records and documents you might otherwise bring in on paper.  We also have online Questionnaires for new patient paperwork.  Please call the front desk if you need assistance with this.
9. We continue to take extra measures to protect our staff and patients and ask that you help by limiting use of the restroom unless necessary and by sanitizing the seat and sink after use.
10. Please let us know prior to coming in for your appointment, if you are sick, have had a fever, or have been in close contact with someone who is currently sick or has been sick in the past 14 days. We will reschedule your appointment or turn it into a telemedicine visit.
11. We have been working hard to keep supplements and tinctures stocked during this time. If you need to pickup supplements, please call and we will put them in a bag on the front porch for you to pick up or we can ship them to you.

Thank you so much for your understanding and cooperation during this time.

COVID- 19 Background Information:

COVID-19 is the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that was first identified in Wuhan, China.  The first case identified in the United States was here in King County and was brought here from someone who traveled from Wuhan in late January.  The data is showing that the virus has likely been spreading through the community since (and possibly before this case was identified).

Symptoms:

COVID-19 predominantly causes the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or lower respiratory symptoms,

Other common symptoms include:

• Sore Throat
• Sinus/nasal congestion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Achiness and Headache

The severity of the illness varies from mild to severe.  Most cases (~80%) are mild/moderate.  The virus causes more severe disease in people with certain health conditions.  These risk factors for more severe disease include:

• Age >60
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Cancer in the last 5 years
• Immunodeficiency
• Asthma or Lung Disease
• Pregnant

Many people have the virus, but are asymptomatic, particularly in younger persons.  These people are still capable of spreading it to those with underlying health conditions or who are elderly, causing severe illness or possibly death.  It is important that everyone do their part to prevent the virus from spreading.

This virus is spread between people in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes and the droplets land on the mouth or nose of persons nearby.  This is why social distancing is recommended.  It is also possible to get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

How to prevent the spread of COVID-19

• Avoid close contact with people (6 feet of social distancing) and follow Stay-at-home orders
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay at home if you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Use a facemask. If you have a mask, wear it when in public.  Even simple, homemade cotton masks will like reduce the risk of transmission significantly.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

How to Get Tested for COVID-19:

We have a limited ability to test patients for COVID-19 at our office, so have been referring most of our patients who require testing to PacMed or University of Washington curbside testing.  We can determine if you require testing through a telemedicine appointment with one of our physicians.  If you are concerned you may have COVID-19 or have had a possible exposure, please set up an appointment so that we can discuss and determine how to proceed.

The following are symptoms of Covid-19 that indicate you may need to be tested:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

There are many other symptoms that have been associated, but these are the most important- please call to discuss with your physician if concerned or have questions

The following groups are people the Department of Health recommends testing if sick or showing symptoms:

• Patients hospitalized with severe lower respiratory illness
• Patients who work in any setting where healthcare services are delivered (including: hospital, department of corrections, juvenile detention centers, mental/behavioral health clinics, long-term care facilities, and similar)
• Patients working in other public safety occupations (e.g., law enforcement, fire fighter, EMT’s)
• Patients who live or work in an institutional or congregate setting (e.g., corrections, long term care facility, homeless/shelters)
• Patients working in critical infrastructure occupations (e.g., grocery stores, pharmacist, restaurants, gas stations, public utilities, etc.)

Additionally, the following populations may be at higher risk of more severe illness if they do contract COVID-19.  If you have any of the health conditions listed below, please setup a telemedicine visit with one of our physicians so that we can discuss any additional precautions that may be needed.

• Asthma or lung disease
• Heart conditions
• Diabetes
• Immunodeficiency
• Cancer in the last 5 years
• Age over 60
• Pregnant

If you are having difficulty breathing please call and ask to speak with a doctor, immediately. If you are in severe distress, call 911.  We are recommending that in all but severe cases, you contact our office and avoid the ER or hospital so that those services are available for patients that cannot be managed in an outpatient setting.

Naturopathic Immune Support

Naturopathic medicine has a number of things to support your immune system. We have provided some information regarding some of these treatments, however, there are many other treatments that may be helpful. Additionally, everyone has a unique health history, so it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors to discuss what immune support and treatments are best for you.

• Houttuynia, Isatis root, Japanese knotweed, Glycyrrhiza, Adndrographis, and Bacial Skullcap have been shown to decrease viral replication and attachment to our cells.

• Argentyn23 or similar colloidal silver.
• Quercetin – shuttles zinc into the white blood cells, which acts as a powerful antiviral

• General immune support
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin A
  • Zinc
  • Selenium
  • Elderberry, Echinacea, Astragalus, Lomatium
  • Probiotics
  • Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, eat your fruits and vegetables and avoid sugars and simple carbohydrates, stay hydrated, and reduce stress.

We are committed to continued patient care by staying informed regarding current updates pertaining to COVID-19. We are here to help you and look forward to seeing you soon by video or in-person.