A Note to Our Pregnant Patients
The doctors at WCJC recognize that the uncertainty and changing recommendations surrounding the Coronavirus Pandemic are a source of stress in your pregnancy. We want to take a moment to let you know how we are working to keep you, your babies, and ourselves safe during this time. Below is an outline of our current office schedules, changes you will see at your visits, and changes you will see in the hospital over the next several weeks.
Your first visit for your pregnancy will now take place as a telemedicine visit. We will review your medical history and symptoms and schedule your first visit based on your risks. The routine first office visit and ultrasound will take place at 10-13 weeks. Lower risk pregnancies will have less frequent office visits during this time to reduce your exposure to COVID-19.
We are not allowing any guests for office visits. This includes husbands and partners. Our goal is to keep our patient and staff exposure to others as limited as possible. You are welcome to call or video conference your loved ones during your visit.
You will notice that our staff is wearing masks and eye protection to protect them from exposure to asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patients. We are not testing suspected COVID-19 positive patients in our office, and have limited our clinic to necessary obstetric appointments and limited emergency gynecologic visits. Our goal is to take you immediately to a private room from the check-in desk, and if this is not possible we will ask you to wait in your car.
Our group will take turns seeing office patients and taking call for labor and delivery. This is to minimize the spread of germs between the hospital and office, and to limit our own exposure to illness. Because of this change, you may not see your regularly scheduled doctor in the office. This does make it less likely that your doctor will be available for your delivery. While this is sad (we LOVE delivering our patients), we know it is the safest way to care for you and ourselves at this time. Every doctor here is capable and caring, and will provide you with exceptional care.
Hospital registration has changed from in-person visits with a tour to a telephone registrations and online tour. On delivery day you and your spouse will be asked health screening questions and have your temperature taken prior to entering labor and delivery. Only one support person is allowed to attend your delivery and hospital stay. No children are allowed. We ask you to consider an early discharge (one day after a vaginal delivery, or two days after a cesarean section) if you and your baby are doing well.
Lastly, we are scheduling postpartum visits by telehealth and are available to meet in this matter to discuss any postpartum mood problems you encounter.
We are committed to continuing to provide outstanding care to you during your pregnancy and so glad you have chosen us to care for you and your baby!
The Doctors of WCJC
913-491-4020
