If COVID-19 has taught us anything it’s productive ways of sheltering in place, creative ways of buying toilet paper, and novel ways of taking care of essential business like keeping doctor’s appointments.

To help accomplish that last goal, Edgewater Health offers a new telehealth service that allows our patients to visit primary care physicians, psychiatrists, and mental health therapists virtually from the comfort of their own laptops or smartphones.  With just a few keystrokes or a simple telephone call, you access the following services:

PRIMARY CARE

• Routine Adult Well Care
• Sick Visits
• Patient Education
• Chronic Disease Management
• Prescription Refills

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

• Psychiatric Evaluation
• Psychotherapy
• Individual Counseling
• Medication Management
• Case Management
• Telepsychiatry

For those isolated at home, those unable to travel, or those who simply want a safe and easy way to visit their doctor, call Edgewater Health at (219) 885-4264 or our primary care office at (219) 884-4900 to schedule a telehealth appointment today!

COVID-19 UPDATE

New Food Safety Guidelines:

The USDA is not aware of any reports at this time of human illnesses that suggest COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging. However, it is always important to follow good hygiene practices (i.e., wash hands and surfaces often, separate raw meat from other foods, cook to the right temperature, and refrigerate foods promptly) when handling or preparing foods.

According to the United Fresh Produce Association there are no clinically-confirmed cases of COVID-19 linked to the consumption of fresh produce or food sold through traditional retail outlets. As consumers select their produce, adhering to food safety guidance is critical. We encourage consumers to wash their hands, and wash and prepare their produce following FDA recommendations.

COVID-19 Testing Information:

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) continues to focus on testing the highest risk Hoosiers including:

• Anyone who is admitted to the hospital whose physician is concerned that their symptoms are consistent with COVID-19.
• Symptomatic healthcare workers (inpatient, outpatient, nursing home, and other long-term service facilities) and first responders who provide direct care to at-risk patients.
• Symptomatic long-term care facility residents or staff who have direct contact with patients.

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. If you have a medical appointment, call your doctor’s office or emergency department, and tell them you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the office protect themselves and other patients. You can also consult a healthcare provider through telehealth, if that is an option.

The ISDH call center for healthcare providers and members of the public who have concerns about COVID-19 is now staffed 24/7 at (877) 826-0011.

For more information, visit: https://in.gov/coronavirus

In the interest of public safety and in an effort to protect our staff, patients, and residents, the following COVID-19 policies are in effect immediately:

• Edgewater Health is restricting access to our facilities to patients and employees only!
• No visitors are allowed without an appointment, prior approval, or authorization.
• Anyone presenting with COVID-19 symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, high fever, or labored breathing will be required to wear a face mask.
• Everyone entering our facilities will be required to maintain social distancing protocols by remaining at least six feet apart.
• Physical contact should be reduced or eliminated if possible (i.e., elbow bump instead of handshake)
• Wash hands often and use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with uncleaned hands.
• Cough or sneeze into inner elbow or use tissue and immediately discard.
• Avoid large crowds, meetings with more than ten people are prohibited.
• Please do not enter if you have traveled internationally within the last 14 days.
• Postpone your visit if you have recently had a fever or cough or have come in contact with anyone diagnosed with influenza or COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

GOVERNOR HOLCOMB UPDATES ACTIONS

The governor has announced new actions and signed executive orders as Indiana continues to deal with the novel coronavirus:

• The state of emergency has been extended an additional 30 days after it expires on April 5.
• All K-12 public schools will remain closed until May 1.
• Non-public schools are also ordered closed.
• All state-mandated assessments are cancelled for the current academic year.
• State income tax payments are delayed until July 15.
• Penalties will be waived for 60 days for property tax paid after May 11.
• Providers of essential utility services such as gas and electric, broadband, telecom, water and wastewater are prohibited from discontinuing service to any customer during the public health emergency.
• The state’s application to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was approved on Wednesday. This program provides targeted, low-interest loans of up to $2 million to help small businesses and nonprofits overcome the temporary loss of revenue as a result of the coronavirus.
• No residential eviction proceedings or foreclosure actions may be initiated during the public health emergency.
• Participants in the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) and the Children’s Health Insurance Program are not required to make minimum payments.
• Telehealth services for mental health, substance use disorder and prescribing for Medicaid covered services will be expanded.
• Mental health professionals are permitted to practice via telemedicine.

For more information about the state’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic visit: http://in.gov/coronavirus

These are the latest directives from Governor Holcomb:

• Indiana will adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for large events and mass gatherings. The guidance recommends no in-person events of more than 50 people. Here is a link to the guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html
• Under the current guidance for schools, 273 public school districts are closed, using e-learning days, or on spring break and have announced a future closure. The Department of Education is working with the remaining 16 school corporations to determine their next steps and needs.
• Bars, nightclubs and restaurants are required to close to in-person patrons and may provide take-out and delivery services through the end of March.
• Hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers should cancel and/or postpone elective and non-urgent surgical procedures immediately. This action will help the healthcare system conserve resources and personnel necessary to meet emerging health needs.
  • Physicians should continue to perform critical procedures necessary to prevent short-term and/or long-term adverse effects to their patients’ overall health
• The state’s Emergency Operations Center has been raised to a Level 1 status and will work in conjunction with the incident command center at the Indiana State Department of Health for planning, coordination, predictive analysis and other functions.
• State employees will maximize the use of remote work and meet virtually whenever possible while maintaining operations. Non-essential in-person meetings will be limited to 10 persons or less and should meet virtually whenever possible. High-risk individuals should not attend meetings in person.
• State employees over the age of 60 with underlying  health conditions are advised to work from home, and agencies should identify work that can be accomplished remotely for those individuals. The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, which are closed on Mondays, will close to the public beginning Tuesday.
• The visitors center at White River State Park will close.
• Indiana state parks and recreation centers, including state park inns, remain open. Restaurants will convert operations to take-out and delivery.
• State agencies already are developing remote work plans for employees and will continue to implement them while maintaining necessary state services. Employees who work outdoors are encouraged to practice social distancing.
• The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has suspended rules requiring certain unemployment insurance claimants to physically appear to continue their unemployment insurance eligibility
  • The DWD will also request flexibility under federal and state law to expand eligibility for claimants and ease burdens on employers.
• The Indiana Economic Development Corporation will postpone the inaugural Indiana Global Economic Summit, scheduled for April 26-28.
• Communities are encouraged to work together to provide child care options for all who need assistance and delivery services of meals and other necessities for senior citizens.
• Hoosiers who can donate blood are encouraged to visit local blood centers. Blood supplies are low. Please follow the guidance at http://www.redcross.org

More information may be found at the ISDH website at https://on.in.gov/COVID19 and the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

The Indiana Department of Health (ISDH) has issued the following guidelines for public gatherings as ordered by Governor Eric J. Holcomb:

• Non-essential gatherings of 250 people or more should be postponed or canceled. This includes any event or gathering of people who are in a single room or single space at the same time, such as an auditorium, cafeteria, church, stadium, arena, large conference room, or meeting hall. This would include gatherings such as concerts, conferences, social and community events.
• Smaller, non-essential gatherings held in venues which do not allow social distancing of six (6) feet per person should be postponed or canceled.
• If an event cannot be canceled or postponed, institute the following precautionary measures:
  • Use phones or video conferencing to reduce the number attending and the need for close interactions;
  • Stagger activities or add frequency of an event to spread out attendance;
  • Encourage those in a high-risk group to not attend the event;
  • Recommend that attendees stay home if they have a fever and/or respiratory symptoms;
  • Practice social distancing, such as adding distance between where individuals sit or stand around tables, and also limit the number of people in lines;
  • Avoid direct physical contact with others, such as hand-shaking, holding hands, and hugging;
  • Event organizers should
    • Explore alternative site design and set-up;
    • Prop doors open to avoid touching;
    • Increase ventilation within the facility;
    • Increase the number of hygiene stations;
    • Clean frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails and countertops, during the event.
  • For those who attend the event, recommend they take the following precautions to prevent possible transmission of the COVID-19 before, during, and after the event:
    • Wash hands often with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
    • Cough and sneeze into the elbow or into a tissue;
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Certain activities are essential to the functioning of our state and must continue. The goal of these recommendations is to prevent people from being together unnecessarily where viruses can be easily spread to others. This guidance does not apply to essential activities or services. Hence, this guidance does not apply to the workplace, essential public transportation and travel, or shopping.

Additional Resources:

http://on.in.gov/COVID19

http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Skip the stigmas, and stick to the facts.

We’ve come a long way in the history of mental healthcare. Only 100 years ago, someone suffering from mental illness would be subjected to treatment that we would consider nothing short of barbaric. And while we’re miles away from Bedlam in terms of how we treat mental health patients, there remains progress to be made. “Mental health” as a term carries with it stigmas and misconceptions. Here are five of the most common—and unfortunately most persistent.

Because you already know it’s good for your health.

It’s common knowledge that exercise is good for you. It helps you maintain a healthy weight. It’s good for your heart. It’s good for your mind, too. We know all this and yet, some of us still can’t seem to get motivated. So instead of a traditional “exercise is good for you” blog, we’ve decided to list some not-so-obvious reasons to exercise.

Tips for preventing head pain

We get it: You have enough “headaches” in your life—you don’t need real ones! But what causes headaches and how can you avoid them? With a little planning, good habits, and fast acting, you can minimize headaches. We’ll show you how.

 What you need to know now

The bad news is that diabetes is on the rise among Americans. The good news is that there is something to be done about it. Edgewater Health wants you to know the facts about both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and learn how to stop Type 2 Diabetes before it starts.

Celebrate your heart this February

It’s hardly fair that arguably the most important part of us gets the shortest of celebratory months: February, Heart Health Month. But let’s make the most of these 28 days. Here are some ways to show your heart you care and help it stay in top shape all year long.

The living room looks bare without the Christmas tree. Relatives and friends have returned back home and to their normal routines. Cheerful decorations have been carefully stored for next year. The only remnant of the holidays is the stack of bills waiting to be paid.