Updated on February 17, 2021
With COVID-19 vaccine eligibility that expanded on Monday, February 15, we have received many questions about how our patients can get documentation of their preexisting medical conditions to show at vaccination locations.
This month, the NYC Department of Health issued a notice to all health providers stating that a letter from a medical provider is NOT needed to demonstrate eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination. You can download and present this certification as proof of your eligibility.
As the status of the COVID-19 pandemic constantly evolves, we are thinking of you and hope that you, your family, and friends are staying safe and healthy. With the situation constantly changing, we are actively balancing your needs with the health and safety of our staff and communities.
Here's how we can help you:
We are accepting in person-appointments. We want you to know that we have taken extensive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-10 at our health center. These are some of the things we continue to do:
In addition to in-person visits, Apicha CHC will continue to offer video visits. Not sure what a Telemedicine Visit can do for you?
Instead of traveling to Apicha, you can have a video appointment with your provider using your mobile phone, computer or tablet device that has a camera. You and your provider will be able to see and talk with each other in real time - so you can ask questions and have a conversation the same way you would when you are in our office. Your provider will review your condition and guide you about next steps like: refilling your medication, writing a prescription for a new medication or advising you whether you should go out to have labs done or postponing them.
To start your video visit is super easy: just click on a link sent to you by text. Video appointments are secure and HIPAA compliant - you just need to make sure you are in a private space where others cannot overhear the conversation.
To schedule a visit (in person or video), please call us at 212-334-6029 or send us a message through the patient portal. Our Patient Associates will be happy to assist you.
Stay healthy with Apicha CHC.
If you are not a patient but may be experiencing symptoms, call the NYC Coronavirus hotline at 888.364.3065 or the New Jersey Coronavirus hotline at 800.222.1222. IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SEVERE SYMPTOMS, CALL 911.
As the Coronavirus outbreak evolves, Apicha CHC has remained in close contact with the NYS Department of Health, and other state and local health agencies to get the most up-to-date information. Our priority is to ensure that our staff and patients are aware of this information as we receive it.
Attention: If you lost your health insurance coverage due to COVID-19-related layoffs, please contact us so that we can provide assistance in assessing your options.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is responding to an outbreak of respiratory (chest/lung) disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first found in China and which has now been found in many places around the world including in the United States. The disease has been named “Coronavirus Disease 2019” (also called “COVID-19”).
Community transmission means that COVID-19 is circulating in NYC and that we should act as if we are all exposed. If you are sick, you must stay home. All New Yorkers must monitor their health carefully at this time. Only seek health care if you are very sick. We need to make sure people with severe illness will be able to stay in a hospital or intensive care unit if they need to. Even if you are not sick, stay home as much as you can: work from home, study from home and avoid all unnecessary interactions and events.
The 2019 novel coronavirus may cause mild (light) to severe (serious) respiratory symptoms like:
These symptoms may show in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after being in contact with the virus. The majority of people who contract the virus will not experience severe symptoms, however, people with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems may be at an increased risk. This underscores the importance of wearing a mask if you are experiencing symptoms as not to spread the virus to others who may be a greater risk. If you are a patient who has symptoms call our main phone line at 212-334-6029 and we will assess how we can best help you – DO NOT WALK IN TO THE HEALTH CENTER.
If you are not a patient but may be experiencing symptoms, call the NYC Coronavirus hotline at 888.364.3065 or the New Jersey Coronavirus hotline at 800.222.1222. IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SEVERE SYMPTOMS, CALL 911. For more information, please refer to the New York State Department of Health or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The virus spreads between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) via respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
It may be possible that a person can 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. Since this virus is very new, health officials continue to watch how this virus spreads. Read more about methods of disease transmission here.
People who are at most risk for severe illness are people who are over 50 years old or who have other health conditions, including chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a weakened immune system. People with regular close contact with someone who has or could have COVID-19 are also at higher risk. This includes people who live in the same home, caretakers who work in the home or sexual partners.
While there is currently no vaccine, these simple steps can help stop the spread of this and other chest/lung viruses.
Testing should only be used for people who need to be hospitalized for severe illness like pneumonia. This protects health care workers and may affect treatment options. At this point, if you have symptoms, assume that you have COVID-19. A positive test will not change what a doctor tells you to do to get better. The best course of action is to stay at home.
If you are only mildly ill, you can save the life of another New Yorker by staying home to ensure health care resources go to those who need them the most. Take care of others by staying home.
If you are sick at home, do the following:
If you had or may have had COVID-19, stay home for seven days after your symptoms started, and for three days after your fever has stopped without the use of fever-reducing drugs, such as Tylenol and ibuprofen, and your cough or sore throat symptoms have improved. If you never had a fever, stay at home for at least three days since your symptoms started improving.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, Apicha CHC has made numerous operational adjustments to better serve the community, while also protecting the health of its clients, staff, and patients.
One of those changes includes our implementation of telehealth. To learn more about telemedicine, read the instructions for logging in with your cell phone here and logging in with your pc here.
Telehealth, also known as telemedicine, is a set of means or methods for enhancing health care, public health, and health education delivery and support using telecommunications technologies. Essentially, telehealth is a virtual way of providing care to clients and staff. It can include diagnosis and management, education, and other related fields of health care.
Telehealth isn't one singular method of providing virtual care. There are numerous forms of telehealth that can be provided by a medical professional. Keep in mind, that not every medical provider offers telehealth. But, as medical technology and health care advance, options to providing care continue to grow. A few examples include live video and remote patient monitoring.
There are many benefits of telehealth, one of the main reasons being that it can better connect patients to their providers. This can improve both the care provided and overall health of patients. By providing a new form of access and service, this benefits communities as a whole.
Practicing social distancing is crucial in reducing new infections. Here is how you can do so:
There is no specific treatment for the Coronavirus other than supportive care (fluids, medicine to reduce fever, and, in severe cases, oxygen). In most cases, people with COVID-19 will recover on their own but will need to be isolated at home to avoid passing the virus to others.
Apicha Community Health Center is in regular contact with NYS Department of Health and other state, local, and federal health agencies to get the most up-to-date information as the situation evolves. Please check this page for updates.
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ph: (212) 334-6029 | 400 Broadway New York, NY 10013