A Letter to Our Patients Regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
The health and welfare of our patients and team members are paramount. Central Carolina Surgery (CCS) is committed to taking proactive precautions for the wellbeing of our patients.
CCS leaders regularly discuss the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 and stay up-to-date with current COVID-19 resources such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Task Force.
The health of our patients, visitors, and staff is the utmost priority. By taking precautionary measures, it is our goal to maintain the patient’s safety while providing the highest level of care, which include:
- If you are experiencing fever, cough or shortness of breath, we request you call the office to postpone your appointment.
- All locations are screening all patients and visitors.
- People who screen positive will not be allowed to continue with their clinic visit. People with symptoms will be provided with information about next steps.
- Our Burlington location will only be open on Wednesdays and Thursday mornings.
- Patients are asked to only bring one support person/visitor to their appointments.
- Rescheduling certain long-term follow-up appointments. The decision to reschedule your appointment will be at the discretion of your surgeon. However, exemptions will be made if you are having issues related to your surgery.
- Performing some post-operative and long-term follow-ups by phone call. More information will be made available regarding Telehealth options.
- Enhancing our cleaning practices to include disinfecting waiting & exam rooms and front desk areas, regularly
- Surgeons and Team Members who meet any of the CDC exposure guidelines will be required to follow the CDC guidelines for testing and quarantine.
- Eliminating the entrance of all non-essential vendors to the clinics
- Patients and visitors are asked to follow recommended guidelines to help stop the spread of germs which are posted throughout the clinic.
Elective/Non-Urgent Surgery
Following the guidelines from the U.S. Surgeon General and the American College of Surgeons, Cone Health will no longer permit elective/non-urgent surgery starting on Thursday, March 19. Emergency surgeries for acute infections of the appendix and gallbladder and intestinal obstruction for example will continue. Certain cancer surgeries will also continue.
While your personal health care is very important, rescheduling surgeries will minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus among patients, visitors and health care providers while allowing the health care system to preserve critical resources and focus on caring for those who need it most.
At this time, we do not know how long these restrictions will last. Please be assured that we will contact you to schedule your surgery as soon as we are allowed to restart elective cases. In the meantime, please communicate with our office if your symptoms are becoming more severe and your surgery needs to be performed urgently.
We appreciate the trust that you have placed in CCS for your surgical needs.
Please follow us on our social media for updates.
We recommend these trusted resources for the latest information on COVID-19:
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html
North Carolina COVID-19 Hotline: 866-462-3821 (open 24 hours, seven days a week)