Telemedicine Clinic Monitors COVID-Positive Patients

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If you’re experiencing COVID like symptoms

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or tested positive for the virus

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and don’t have a primary care provider,

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the COVID to Home clinic can help.

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You’re watching the Local News Network,

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I’m Wendy Graham Settle,

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initiated by San Juan Regional

Medical Center last April,

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the COVID to Home program

is a telemedicine clinic

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that provides coordinated

care so patients can recover

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at home while avoiding

overloading the hospital.

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A staff of 10 nurses and

doctors virtually meet

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and monitor patients daily

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to determine if they need

a greater level of care.

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We found out that a lot of

people go downhill really fast

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when they are having difficulty breathing,

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when they come out of the hospital,

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before they go in the hospital,

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a lot of times those are

the most dangerous periods.

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And so we monitor them very closely.

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High intensity patients are

provided a digital oximeter

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or oxygen sensor to monitor

their oxygen intake.

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If their oxygen level drops

below a reading of 88,

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they know it’s time to

get to the hospital.

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Patients enrolled in the program

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are categorized by

different levels of risk.

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Those with mild symptoms

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who don’t require hospitalization,

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and those who’ve been

discharged to self isolate.

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All say they are grateful for

their provider’s attention

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and consideration.

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And a lot of them say

that they’re very scared

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when they find out they have COVID,

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and they’re scared when they can breathe.

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So by getting them set up

with oxygen if they need it,

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by having a monitor carefully,

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by having people who know

what they’re doing call them

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and ask them questions about

what is your oxygen been,

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how are you feeling,

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what’s happening with

this side or the other,

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they know somebody is watching over them

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and when you have to be

isolated and quarantined,

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and away from other people,

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and a lot of people don’t

have a lot of family here,

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it really makes a

difference in how they feel.

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On average, a patient will be monitored

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for two weeks either online or by phone.

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Medical staff monitor up

to 25 patients each day.

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The COVID to Home clinic is based

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out of the San Juan health partners

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family medicine office in Aztec.

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If you’re interested in

joining this program,

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call 5056096284.

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Thanks for watching this edition

of the Local News Network

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brought to you by Fastsigns.

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I’m Wendy Graham Settle.

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