Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - Family Healthcare of Hagerstown

February 3, 2021

COVID-19 VACCINE IS CURRENTLY BEING GIVEN TO FHH PATIENTS WHO ARE IN CATEGORY 1A, 1B, and 1C now.

Priority groups 1A and 1B have been ongoing. Priority group 1C includes the following people:

• All adults over the age of 65
• Food and agricultural workers
• U.S. Postal Service workers
• Grocery/Convenience store workers
• Public and private transit workers
• Manufacturing workers
• Veterinarians and their support staff
• Members of clergy and others deemed essential support for houses of worship
• Everyone in Priority Groups 1A and 1B
• (NEW!) Individuals who are currently hospitalized AND diagnosed with the following: • Cancer patients who are currently in active treatment
• End-stage renal disease patients requiring hemodialysis
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), especially those oxygen/steroid-dependent
• Solid organ transplant recipients
• Sickle cell disease patients
• Diabetic patients (Type 1 and Type 2)

If you are a patient of Family Healthcare of Hagerstown (Dental, Family Practice, and/or Mental Health) and are interested in receiving the COVID vaccine, please call 301.745.3777 and press option 6. Leave your name, DOB, and phone number where you can be reached. When the vaccine is available for your age group, we will call you to schedule your appointment. Also let us know if you are able to be here within 30 minutes, because we can include you on a quick call list in case we have a last minute cancellation.

January 26, 2021

COVID-19 VACCINE: IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL FHH PATIENTS!

As usual, we appreciate your understanding as we receive and administer vaccines!

November 16, 2020

Due to everchanging numbers of testing kits and wait times for results from processing labs, Family Healthcare of Hagerstown is currently only providing COVID-19 testing to people who have been exposed and have symptoms. Testing is taking place Monday through Friday, from 10:00am-11:40am and again from 3:00pm-4:30pm as . Appointments are preferred.

Remember to continue to follow guidelines of social distancing, wearing face coverings, covering sneezes and coughs, and washing hands!

Need more information? Reliable information is important! We, and many other local agencies, are working together to best serve our community and to ensure information is accurate and timely. Some other good sources of information are the Meritus Health public health page which can be found by using this link , the Washington County Coronavirus web page which can be found here, or the Washington County Health Department website which can be accessed here.

July 17, 2020

COVID-19 Testing Update:

Due to limited supplies of testing kits and long wait times for results from processing labs, Family Healthcare of Hagerstown is not currently providing COVID-19 testing to people who are asymptomatic. Testing is still taking place Monday through Friday, from 10:00am-10:30am and again from 2:30pm-4:30pm. Appointments are preferred. We apologize and hope you’ll understand.

June 11, 2020

Here is the most recent information about testing and telehealth:

COVID-19 Testing: Family Healthcare of Hagerstown is happy to provide COVID-19 testing Monday through Friday, from 10:00am-10:30am and again from 2:30pm-4:30pm. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are available. We are not, however, offering the newer antibody testing because the accuracy rate of current tests is only about 50%. We will continue to re-evaluate antibody testing options in order to best meet the needs of our patients and the community.

Also, we do still provide the Telehealth option when appropriate but our doors are open for business! New patients are welcomed and the wait time for a new-patient appointment is currently only 1 – 2 business days. Our current hours remain:

Family Practice and Mental Health Care: 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday
Dental Care: 8:00 to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday

May 7, 2020

We are pleased to announce that, due to Governor Hogan’s May 6 amended directive, FHH can begin treating dental patients who are seeking elective and non-emergent care again. Please call for more information: 301.745.3777.

Also, FHH is now providing COVID-19 testing to patients as needed.

Finally, FHH is pleased to accept new patients. The wait time is currently only 1 – 2 business days to be seen.

April 6, 2020

While all the information on the March 31 update (below) remains true, we have added one additional measure based on Governor Hogan’s recommendations: each visitor will be given a bandana if he or she does not have a face mask. This bandana should be kept, washed, and used for upcoming appointments here or at referral offices.

March 31, 2020

Just a quick reminder that we are still ready and able to care for patients. Our current hours are:

Family Practice and Mental Health Care: 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday
Dental Care: 8:00 to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday

And! we are now offering telehealth for many of our Family Practice and Mental Health visits. Patients who were previously scheduled are being contacted regarding any changes. We understand this is new to many and it is a transition so thank you for working alongside us to safely and efficiently meet patient needs! If you have questions, please reach out to us – we are here to help!

Here are just a few reminders to those who are visiting our building:

We continue to ask everyone to remain outside the building or in a vehicle unless: 1) you are a patient, 2) you are the parent of guardian of a patient, or 3) you are the caregiver, case manager, or translator of an adult patient needing assistance.
Anyone entering the building will have a temperature taken.
NEW: Each visitor will be given a bandana if he or she does not have a face mask. This bandana should be kept, washed, and used for upcoming appointments here or at referral offices.

Please remember that reliable information is important! We, and many other local agencies, are working together to best serve our community and to ensure information is accurate and timely. Some other good sources of information are the Meritus Health public health page which can be found by using this link , the Washington County Coronavirus web page which can be found here, or the Washington County Health Department website which can be accessed here.

March 24, 2020

To keep safety for patients and staff at the forefront, and in order to adhere to existing state and federal guidelines, we will be changing the way we offer well-visits, preventive care, and therapy to patients. On Wednesday, March 25th, we will begin seeing Family Practice and Mental Health patients by telehealth. Patients who are currently scheduled to be seen will be contacted regarding any changes. Moving forward, patients will be scheduled accordingly. We understand this is a change for patients and staff alike, so please be patient as we make this transition. Our end goal is to care for you, our patients, as quickly and safely as possible. If you have questions, please reach out to us – we are here to help!

Here are just a few reminders:

We continue to ask everyone to remain outside the building or in a vehicle unless: 1) you are a patient, 2) you are the parent of guardian of a patient, or 3) you are the caregiver, case manager, or translator of an adult patient needing assistance.
Anyone entering the building will have a temperature taken.

Please see previous updates (below) for more information.

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March 19, 2020

Please be advised that we are asking everyone to remain outside the building or in a vehicle unless: 1) you are a patient, 2) you are the parent of guardian of a patient, or 3) you are the caregiver, case manager, or translator of an adult patient needing assistance. Additionally, anyone entering the building will have their temperature taken. We thank you for helping to keep our patients, visitors, and employees as safe and healthy as possible.

Please see the updates (below) for more information.

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March 18, 2020

Effective immediately, FHH will adjust the patient appointment schedule to care for patients from 7:30am-5:00pm Monday through Friday. The Wells House location will maintain its regularly scheduled hours. This will ensure that we have appropriate numbers of staff to care for patients during potentially high-traffic times. Additionally, staff will greet all visitors upon arrival to assess risk level. As noted in the March 16 update, please do not enter the building, if possible, unless you have an appointment.

Thank you!

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March 16, 2020

Due to the rapidly changing nature of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, we encourage you to use this link for updated and reliable information.

Additionally, Meritus Health has established a COVID-19 Care Line in the event that you have traveled overseas and have flu-like symptoms, have a fever and cough, or are concerned that you may have been exposed to the virus. Before going to the hospital or visiting your medical provider’s office, please call 301-790-9170. There are some exceptions, however: patients who have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing – should seek care immediately. Older patients and people with underlying medical conditions or compromised immune systems should contact their medical office early in the course of the illness.

Finally, the school system recognizes that nutritious meals for children may be difficult to provide during this recent school closure. Washington County Public Schools will provide meals to all children without charge. Please visit this link for more information.

For other useful information related to the virus and/or the community response, please visit the Meritus Health public health page by using this link.

A tip for your visit with us:

If possible, limit the number of guests that you bring to your appointment. Older adults are not encouraged to be in the building unless they have an appointment. On days of milder weather, guests who are old enough (not children who should be supervised) should try waiting in the car or outside while the patient is being seen. This will help more people stay well.

If you have flu-like symptoms, tell a staff right away. We will give you a mask or bandanna.

If you traveled out of the country or to a high-risk area in the US and have flu-like symptoms but don’t have an appointment, please call the COVID-19 Care Line FIRST. The number is 301-790-9170.

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March 13, 2020