| Baptist Health South Florida is closely monitoring the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Our goal during this time, as always, is to keep patients, employees, and visitors safe. What is Coronavirus? Coronaviruses are viruses that cause sicknesses like the common cold. In December 2019, a new virus was seen in people in Wuhan City, China, and caused the ongoing outbreak that is spreading into other countries. The sickness caused by this virus is now called COVID-19. What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Current symptoms reported by patients with COVID-19 have included:Mild to severe respiratory illness with:FeverCoughDiffuiculty breathing How do I stay healthy? Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you use a hand sanitizer, make sure it is at least 60% alcohol-based Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands Avoid close contact with people who are sickStay home when you are sick Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, rather than into your hands Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces What should I do if I think I have been exposed to COVID-19? Call your doctor, use an available telehealth service (such as Baptist Health Care On Demand), or contact the county health department if you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing and have a recent history of travel to affected areas or other exposure to the virus. If symptoms are serious, then seek medical help immediately. What if I have a scheduled appointment with my doctor? If you have respiratory symptoms, we kindly ask that you call us at 786-596-2000 for guidance before your scheduled appointment. For the latest information about COVID-19, please visit CDC.gov or the Florida Department of Health website or dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121 or emailing COVID-19@flhealth.gov. The call center is available 24/7. |
| What is Baptist Health doing to prepare for an outbreak? Baptist health is following guidance from health department experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for screening and testing patients for COVID-19. Our clinical staff is trained to recognize patients who may have COVID-19 infections. Baptist Health Care On Demand Through our Baptist Health Care On Demand app, our online caregivers are prepared to follow the appropriate CDC protocols for COVID-19. The Care On Demand providers can answer any questions you have, evaluate your risk, and provide support to relieve symptoms. For a limited time, we are offering online urgent care visits for FREE (a savings of $59). Please use code CARE19. |
| Also available to Miami Cancer Institute patients via Care on Demand is Express Symptom Management, for cancer-related symptoms or side effects. Enter service key “MCIESM” to access this service. |
