COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions

Do The Family Health Centers test for COVID-19?
Yes, the practice provides testing at our Respiratory Clinic outside the downtown office. Please call to be screened for an appointment.

What types of COVID-19 tests do The Family Health Centers currently offer?
Nasopharyngeal PCR swabs. Starting November 2, 2020, we may recommend Rapid Antigen Testing based on a screening with your provider. Antigen tests are designed to detect proteins from the virus that causes COVID-19 in respiratory specimens.

How can I get a test?
Please call to schedule a virtual office visit, or a Respiratory Clinic appointment. A Provider will determine what’s best for you.

How long does it take to get COVID-19 test results?
This is a continually changing number depending on lab demand, but currently delivery or results are ranging, on average, from four to eight days.

• Negative and Positive test results are made available securely online via the LabCorp portal for patients with Internet access.
• In the LabCorp Portal, results are reported at “Detected” or “None Detected.”
• Patients with results reported as “Detected” will receive a telephone call from their Family Health Centers provider, and will also receive a call from the Health Department.

Who should get tested Please review recommendations here.
If you have symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, new loss of taste or smell, vomiting or diarrhea, and/or sore throat, we will, in most cases, ask you to come to our Respiratory Clinic to be safely tested for COVID-19.

If I am uninsured, can I still get a COVID-19 test if I have symptoms or suspect exposure?
Yes. There is Federal funding to cover testing, which The Family Health Centers can apply for on your behalf.

Is it safe to visit your Provider in-person at a Family Health Centers location?
Offices are now designed to safely accommodate needed medical care. In-office appointments are limited to a small number of Providers and Staff Members. If visiting, you will be guided to safe areas for meeting with your Provider and clinical staff members.

What types of appointments are currently available at The Family Health Centers?
We are offering Telehealth visits, limited in person visits and evaluation of Covid19 symptoms in our respiratory clinic.  These are all by appointment only.  We are no longer offering walk-in appointments during the Covid19 pandemic.

Which medical appointments are available via Telehealth right now?
Medicare Annual Wellness visits are Telehealth-only. Please call us for a Telehealth appointment for necessary medical care including:

• Chronic Disease Management
  Asthma, Chronic Pain, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Hypertension
• Common Conditions
  Allergies, Cough, cold & flu, Diarrhea, Fever, Headache, Nausea & vomiting, Sinus problems, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• Behavioral Health
  Addictions, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, PTSD, Stress

FAQ’s on available data about treatments and interactions associated with COVID-19:

• Should I stop my Blood Pressure Medicine(s) or statin(s) or ibuprofen due to concern for COVID-19 risk?
  NO, there is no evidence to show that certain BP meds (ACE/ARBs) or statin (cholesterol) medications or ibuprofen worsen your outcome w/ Covid infection, so please continue these. In fact, these drugs will likely help because if you have uncontrolled BP, your risk of severe COVID-19 infection is higher.

• Should I take a Z-Pak (Azithromycin) or Hydroxychloroquine to prevent or treat COVID-19?
  NO, there is no evidence that these drugs help treat or prevent COVID-19, and can be harmful (for example, can cause sudden cardiac death), especially in the older population.

• Does my Blood type effect my survival if I get COVID-19?
  NO, there is no data to support this. It may affect your test results (for example, some blood types are more likely to test positive), but there is nothing to support that certain blood types fare worse or are more likely to die because of COVID-19.

• Is there anything I can take to decrease my chance of getting or my risk of getting severely ill, or dying from COVID-19?
  There is nothing to-date that has been proven to help prevent COVID-19 illness, but taking moderate doses of Zinc, Vitamin C and Vitamin D MAY help, and, are fairly low risk. Please talk with your provider about what doses are safe for you.