COVID-19 Updates & Links
Dr. Sullivan has restarted seeing patients in person at his office. In light of the pandemic, we’re taking precautions as an office to keep our clinic safe for our clients and patients.
- Online or telemedicine?
- Our goal is to limit the number of in-person visits to limit the potential spread of COVID-19. For doctor’s visits, we recommend that you schedule an online telemedicine visit unless you need to be seen in person. These telemedicine visits are covered by all insurance in Washington State (for now). If you aren’t sure if you should be seen in person, please feel free to contact Dr. Sullivan and he will help you decide.
- Office Policies
- We are asking our patients to limit their use of the waiting room in our clinic. If possible, we’re asking that you wait outside or in your car and only enter the building at the time of your appointment. If desired, we can call you when Dr. Sullivan is ready for you. The waiting room chairs have been spaced out to allow for social distancing.
- Please wear a mask when you come into the clinic or we’ll provide one when you arrive. All patients and providers will be wearing masks in the common areas.
- When you arrive to the clinic, please wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before touching anything.
- If you, or anyone in your household, have had any cold or flu symptoms, including cough, shortness of breath, sneezing, sore throat, fever, new loss of sense of taste/smell, muscle aches, then please schedule an online telemedicine visit or call our office to discuss.
- All areas of the clinic including commonly touched surfaces are being cleaned regularly every day.
The information regarding COVID-19 is changing daily, and we are following the latest medical news. We’d like to share with you some helpful information about this illness, as well as what to do if you suspect you may have the virus or have been exposed.
We are requesting that if you are acutely ill with a cough, fever, or respiratory symptoms that you please stay home and call the office or the WA Department of Health Hotline: 1-800-525-0127. Please do not go out of the home where you could infect others, which could lead to serious illness or even deaths.
HOWEVER, if you are experiencing respiratory distress (meaning significant trouble breathing), or high fever that does not come down with acetaminophen/Tylenol, then that is an Emergency and may require that you go to the ER.
What You Can Do:
HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD OF INFECTION
- Stay at home and away from others.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Or, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces frequently, especially frequently touched items such as small electronics, door handles, light switches, and sink handles.
- If you haven’t had a flu shot, consider getting one now. It doesn’t protect against coronavirus but the symptoms of flu and coronavirus are very similar, leading to confusion about the correct diagnosis, community anxiety, and possibly exposure to coronavirus if you do have to be treated for flu complications.
Public Health is also reminding us that viruses such as COVID-19 don’t recognize race, nationality, or ethnicity. There are steps everyone can take to reduce the stigma that is being attached to the disease.
Links for accurate information:
Clinical information:
If you have known exposure, or suspected exposure, call the Department of Health Hotline (1-800-525-0127and press #) – they will assess and tell you if you need to be tested. STAY HOME!
- Testing:
- A) Testing via nasal swab is to diagnose current illness, this testing is happening at several specific locations, NOT at most clinics or labs. We do not test for active coronavirus at our clinic.
- B) We can now test for COVID-19 antibodies via a blood test. If you are wondering if you have been exposed and have mounted an immune response to the virus, we can order this test. The blood is drawn at certain UW locations or at Labcorp draw sites, you need a lab order from a doctor. We don’t know if these antibodies will provide any immunity to COVID-19, but it is possible, we have to wait for the research to know the answer. If you’re a new patient, we can do a telemedicine visit and then Dr. Sullivan can order this blood test for you.
- Symptoms of COVID-19 are: fever over 100.4 degrees F, cough, muscle aches, new loss of sense of taste or smell. If you are having significant trouble breathing, call your local hospital or medical clinic to see if you need to go to the hospital. Otherwise, with mild illness please stay home and call the department of health or your doctor about testing.
Immune Support
General immune support to protect yourself (contact Dr. Sullivan if you need a personalized protocol)
- Take care of your health and immune system with good sleep, healthy food, and exercise, what we call the foundations of good health.
- Take vitamin C 500-1000mg four times per day. Less if you get any stomach upset.
- Take vitamin D 5,000IU with food for one month, then 3,000IU ongoing. If you’re taking this long term you need to get your vitamin D blood levels checked. *If you get symptoms of COVID-19, then stop taking vitamin D.
- Take Zinc 25mg per day.
- Foods that support your immune system include garlic, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon. Sugar and alcohol can promote viral infections, so limit them.
We do have an online supplement and herb store – CLICK HERE – where you can buy the highest quality products. See Online Dispensary page for our list of trusted brands. They will be shipped directly to your home.
Don’t hesitate to call with any questions or schedule an appointment for telemedicine via the “Request an Appointment” button.