Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Steven Santiago
MIAMI, FL – March 24, 2020 – As the spread of COVID-19 impacts the health of our community and upends daily living, Care Resource wants to assure patients, friends, colleagues, and partners that the health center remains committed, more than ever, to the mission and purpose that has guided us for more than 35 years: to provide compassionate and quality health care for all, regardless of ability to pay. All Care Resource Community Health Center Inc. locations are open and will make every effort to remain open during this unprecedented health crisis.
Care Resource has a well-defined process in place to ensure the health and safety of everyone who enters our medical facilities in the face of communicable diseases, reflecting medical best practices and infection control measures as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.
Please be rest assured that the health center has been working tirelessly to adjust current procedures, and devise new protocols, in order to respond to the specific risks of COVID-19 exposure for both patients and staff. We are now screening everyone for COVID-19 before entering into our buildings. If symptoms require COVID-19 testing, every effort will be made to collect samples (limited by supplies available) and we will work closely with the local Health Department for monitoring and guidance. If one has no symptoms or non-related symptoms, they will be able to proceed with their visit as usual. Care Resource has excellent relations with our local health departments, and we will work closely with them in order to determine how to handle any significant contacts with infected individuals. Staff, as well as most patients, who are not feeling well or present any symptoms, regardless of levels of exposure, are being advised to stay home, in order to prevent exposing co-workers or others in the community, as we try to “flatten the curve” of new infections.
Health center staff have reached out to all patients with existing appointments to check on them and reschedule routine appointments to reduce the risk of exposure. To promote a safe environment for all our patients and staff, we have expanded telehealth services for existing patients as a way of meeting their healthcare needs from the comfort of their homes. New clients can preregister online and we continue to navigate people with pressing health concerns including HIV care, nPEP, PrEP, and Behavioral health. Our Dental team has been partially reassigned to other areas of need, but they are able to accommodate dental emergency visits for existing patients.
HIV, STI, HEP C testing remain available at our health centers located in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Little Havana. To safeguard staff and patients, we have temporarily canceled community testing using our mobile units. However, we will accommodate transportation for urgent testing requests using Uber Health.
Care Resource’s Social Services Case Management team will continue to provide services at all sites, and Case Managers will coordinate services via telephone and utilize electronic secure messaging for documentation purposes as needed. Food for Life Network food pantry (FFLN) will continue providing food services for clients as scheduled. Clients that are able to drive and pick up groceries are asked to remain in their vehicles and groceries will be placed in their car trunks if assistance is needed. For those able to retrieve on their own, groceries will be ready for pickup and placed in grocery baskets.
As the novel coronavirus may remain viable for hours or days on surfaces, our Health Center utilizes some of the safest, most environmentally friendly materials available daily in cleaning and disinfecting our health centers for the prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses. Disinfection supplies include but are not limited to EvaClean Infection Prevention products and Electrostatic spray.
These actions, with strictly enforced pre-screening protocol, updated infection control measures, hand hygiene, appropriate protective gear, and social distancing, have prepared the health center to respond adequately. Uncertain times like this remind us why healthcare is our calling. Together, we will continue to combat this pandemic. Please stay safe and healthy, and know that Care Resource is here for you.
Care Resource is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization and a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with four (4) locations located in Midtown Miami, Little Havana, Miami Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. We provide comprehensive health and support services to address the full health care needs of our pediatric, adolescent, and adult populations.
Steven Santiago, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
For Media Inquiries or additional article information, please contact Jonathan Welsh, Associate Director of Development and Communications at jwelsh@careresource.org
