Family Doc Direct update  3/18/2020 

  In Michigan, we already have a significant number of cases of Covid-19 diagnosed, with 11 confirmed so far in Ingham county.  Those may seem small numbers, but actually, this is just the tip of the iceberg.  We are very limited in our ability to test, and now people are tested only if they have severe symptoms that require hospitalization.

  We already confirmed that there is community transmission, and the history of travel is not necessary to be contagious.  The most common symptoms are:

FEVER, DRY COUGH, SHORTNESS OF BREATH,

some may experience muscle aches, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, and abdominal pain.

Do not make any unnecessary trips outside your home!  

• Please do not visit public places if at all possible. If you have to pick up prescriptions from a pharmacy, try to call ahead and use the drive-through. (we are shipping medications straight to your home from our office - ask me how!) -- If you can work from home, please do so. If you must be at work, try to stay at least 6 feet from others and clean your hands and your work station frequently.
• If you are sick, STAY HOME. No matter how much you think they can't do without you at work, it is not worth spreading this disease. Even if YOU don't feel that bad, you may spread it to someone who could die from it. If you are chronically sick (that means you have a disease fo which you take medications daily for more than 2 weeks) please stay at home. In essence, people with multiple health issues are at a higher risk of developing severe forms of the disease that requires hospitalizations.
• Once again, if you feel sick, DO NOT walk- into the office without calling us first. If you are mildly ill, we will keep you at home to avoid exposing others and ask you to check in with us daily. If you are seriously sick with shortness of breath, fever, and dry cough, please call us, and we will initiate a video call or phone call to help guide you. Any visits we have with sick patients will occur in the parking lot.

This situation is changing daily, and we will try to keep you informed of everything that is evolving in our community and nation. If you have any questions or concerns at all about what is happening, please don't hesitate to call me. This is why access to your physician is essential and why we do what we do. We are lucky that we are prepared for just such an emergency.

PROTECTION: We are at this time actively protecting our most vulnerable patients: the elderly, the ones on immunosuppressants, the ones going through cancer therapies. We are NOT offering routine in-person visits in the office, but we are available via text, phone, email, video visits, virtually 24/7 for our members.

All routine visits are being rescheduled to virtual visits (telemedicine). If you need any medication refilled, please contact us and will make everything possible for you not to run out of medicine.

Stay SAFE!

Dr. Adriana Raus MD
Family Doc Direct