MIDDLETOWN – Crystal Run Healthcare has intensified its efforts to combat the Coronavirus pandemic while keeping patients and staff healthy. These efforts include innovative changes at the Practice’s office facilities as well providing additional services and support at local and regional hospitals.
Crystal Run has established it’s COVID Response Team (CR-CRT), a group of physicians and advanced practice providers (APPS—nurse practitioners and physician assistants) who have volunteered to serve outside of their traditional roles at Crystal Run in order to meet the needs of the current public health emergency. Members of the CR-CRT, regardless of specialty, are helping provide care on the general medical services and in the ICU’s of local and regional hospitals, and are serving on the front lines at Crystal Run’s dedicated COVID-19 evaluation sites.
Crystal Run offices remain open for our patients who require in-person office evaluations, but the Practice has made changes to improve safety and efficiency. A “No Wait” rooming process and cashless check-out serves to increase social distancing during in-person office visits. Patients check-in for their appointments by phone and are escorted from the front entrance directly to the exam room.
In addition, Crystal Run continues to operate dedicated COVID-19 evaluation sites where providers perform in-car assessments and testing of symptomatic patients. Patients with symptoms that could be related to COVID-19 may also see their regular Crystal Run physicians at dedicated sites or times to minimize the risk to others. Outdoor blood drawing for patients at risk of having or contracting COVID-19 is also available at many of Crystal Run’s locations.
Crystal Run has also established a robust telehealth platform which provides “virtual” office visits to thousands of patients each week, from the comfort and safety of their own homes. For many patients, these visits may be the best and safest way to obtain needed care at the current time. In the event a telehealth visit suggests the need for in-person care or testing, those can be arranged and expedited during the virtual visit. Patients interested in requesting a telehealth appointment or converting an existing appointment to telehealth, may visit cryatalrunhealthcare.com/telehealth to complete the Request Telehealth Visit Form.
Crystal Run is now offering evaluation and testing to the community which is open to symptomatic individuals, whether or not they are currently established as patients of the Practice. Those who have unexplained fever or respiratory symptoms should call Crystal Run’s CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE (845-643-3909) to receive further instructions and be directed to one of Crystal Run’s multiple COVID-19 evaluation sites. Upon arrival, they’ll be checked in by phone, examined by a provider donned in personal protective equipment (PPE) and tested for coronavirus if indicated.