Coronavirus (COVID-19) - What to Expect

At Pontchartrain Orthopedics and Sports Medicine (POSM), patient safety and well-being continue to be our first priority. In light of recent concerns about the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), patients should be assured that we employ the highest standards of safety and infection control protocols. We are actively monitoring and reacting to developments regarding local information and will take further action if necessary.

Covid-19 is a virus that can cause a broad range of symptoms. Many exposed can be asymptomatic however many people can have flu like symptoms, and some can get really sick. Those that get really sick can die because Covid-19 can destroy your lungs making it difficult to breathe. Covid-19 is a very contagious virus that can be deadly.

Anyone. Yes, anyone can be infected. There have been fatalities reported in patients from their 20s and above. However the most at risk are individuals with existing medical issues.

Yes. We recommend discontinuing any risky behaviors during this period of time that might result in hospitalization. For instance, although in New Orleans the weather has been really nice the last couple of weeks, try to refrain from climbing the ladder to clean your gutters because if you were to fall and fracture a bone you would need to seek medical attention in person. The best behavior change is to try to prevent illness by avoiding exposure.  Don’t gather in groups more than 10. Avoid public places when possible. The CDC recommends the following measures:

You should call our office at (504) 885-6464. We are still seeing patients in need in person or using telemedicine depending on the situation.

Currently our surgery center and hospital are open to cases that can’t be safely delayed.

You should seek medical attention for anything that you would normally. However, you should consider the following prior to going to the doctor’s office.

Pontchartrain Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is available for your complete Orthopedic care (surgeon, x-ray, brace/cast, medicine, Physical Therapy). To protect our patients and staff we ask that you notify us prior if you have been exposed to COVID-19 or are in close contact with someone who is suspected of having the virus.

Also, if you have any fever or chills or flu-like symptoms like body aches please let us know over the phone prior to coming to any of our facilities.

We have dedicated our lives to helping people. We are staying open and available through this difficult time in order to continue to provide expert complete orthopedic care under one roof to limit  patient exposure to hospitals, Emergency Rooms, and Urgent Care centers. We treat not only the general public but many healthcare providers and essential workers.  By treating their orthopedic issues we can get them back in the fight against this virus.

In addition to our pre-Corona sterility policies we have currently instituted many new safety mechanisms to protect our patients and staff. These include a virtual waiting room. Disinfecting rooms and surfaces after each patient. Allowing staff to work from home when possible to decrease the amount of people in the office. All staff is wearing gloves when possible.

This a question to discuss with your doctor and their staff. In my practice, we are using telemedicine for appropriate routine follow-up and postoperative visits but ultimately this is a decision for you and your doctor to decide.

You need a reliable high-speed internet connection and a device with a microphone and a video camera. If you can FaceTime or Skype or any equivalent video conferencing programs you can typically use telemedicine software. For many telemedicine programs, it is as simple as clicking a link from your email or text and giving the program permission to access your microphone and camera.

We continue to closely monitor this global health advisory and follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You can find additional information on the Center for Disease Control website, including more COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions.