Thank you to our partners Baptist Health South Florida for providing this valuable information.
Cooped up at home with your family and someone has a cough, and then a fever… Moms, what should you do if you or a member of your family are experiencing symptoms similar to those described as COVID-19?
Statistics show us that most people who contract COVID-19 will experience mild symptoms that are easily treatable at home. However, some can develop pneumonia which can be a more serious situation, especially for the immune-compromised or elderly population. Pneumonia causes difficulty breathing because lungs can fill with fluid. If you or someone you love experience difficulty breathing you should consult medical attention immediately.
In accordance with the guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Baptist Health South Florida advises people to utilize the Baptist Health Care On Demand app to see a doctor from home. It’s easy to arrange an appointment and you can chat face to face with a Telehealth professional from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
How Care on Demand Can Help your Family
In light of social distancing and the threat of spreading the disease to others, it is imperative that we take the right precautions if we think we, or someone we love has been exposed to COVID-19.
Dr. David Mishkin, medical director of Baptist Health Care on Demand suggests that, “Care on Demand is really the first ‘front door’ potentially for many patients regarding this illness. We advise patients who may be low-risk, and we can be a resource for patients who may be of higher risk.”
Because of the varying degree of symptoms related to COVID-19 it is best to seek the advice of a Telehealth professional before beelining to the hospital. If a patient does meet criteria for an in-person evaluation related to COVID-19, Baptist Health has specific protocols in place. The Care on Demand assessment is an important step in the process, not only for receiving care but also for protecting others.
If a patient needs medical attention beyond the Telehealth platform, Dr. Mishkin states, “We’re going to guide them by notifying the facility, working with our infection control team and the Department of Health to make sure that it’s done in a very safe and smooth manner.”
Accessing the Care on Demand App
For a limited time Baptist Health is offering FREE (you heard that right, F-R-E-E!) online urgent care visits through Care on Demand. You can see a health care professional from the comfort of your home and receive the care you need without ever leaving your couch. These visits aren’t just for COVID-19 symptoms either. Mental Health Counseling, Psychiatry, Breastfeeding Support and Diet & Nutrition, among other specialties, are also available via Care On Demand at different price points.
Check out the amazing features of Care on Demand:
- No appointment required
- Providers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year
- You can get the urgent care you need for a wide variety of non-life-threatening conditions, without the cost of a hospital-based emergency room, from anywhere in the U.S.
- No surprise charges – virtual urgent care visits are just $59 (now FREE with code CARE19) and no subscription is required nor insurance needed!
Read about my battle with a sinus infection that was quickly resolved using Care on Demand.
Moms, Let’s Help Stop the Spread
There are many teachable moments available to us right now. Let’s seize every opportunity to be an example to our children and to others around us. We’ve all seen images on news outlets and social media of masked nurses and doctors encouraging people to stay home. Let’s continue to do our part in helping to flatten the curve.
- Practicing good hygiene including proper hand washing
- Submitting to the governing authorities and honoring their requests to stay home
- Socially distancing ourselves when out in public
- Visiting a Telehealth provider via Baptist Health Care on Demand app
Together we can make a difference and together we will get through this.
Download the app Care on Demand and see a doctor now!
(Watch Now: The Baptist Health News Team interviews David Mishkin, M.D., medical director of Baptist Health Care On Demand. Video by Anthony Vivian.)
