Information regarding how we are responding to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.
We are here for you and understand your reason for concern during these trying times.
We are still seeing patients with certain safety protocols per present recommendations.
In response to COVID-19 Dr. Straka and Dr. Kleven are offering virtual appointments!
During the current COVID-19 pandemic our utmost priority is the health of our patients, staff, and community. After evaluating the most current information and reviewing published guidelines, we remain confident in our ability to provide dermatological care in a safe and healthy environment at Highlander Dermatology.
We recommend any patient stay home if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
We want to limit contact and reduce person-to-person exposure in our community, to our patients and to our staff. If you are feeling ill, have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, we kindly ask that you call our office and reschedule your appointment.
If you have an appointment and are feeling healthy, we plan to continue to stay open and see patients as long as guidelines and recommendations permit us to do so. We are closely monitoring updates from the Centers for Disease Control and WHO and will continue to seek guidance from these agencies and local public health officials. With new information, we will make the necessary adjustments to our operations and will keep you informed of any changes.
We will continue to maintain a clean and safe environment and continue to comply with OSHA and CDC infection control guidelines. We have standard protocols in place to disinfect all surfaces and patient contact areas. We have expanded and increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfection of all common areas and facilities. Each patient room will be thoroughly disinfected after each patient. Each patient will be screened prior to their visit.
For more information, questions or to reschedule an appointment, please call our office at (262) 290-4540.
Sincerely,
Drs. Straka and Kleven
Courtney Papp, PA-C
The staff at HIGHLANDER DERMATOLOGY LLC
We recommend any patient stay home if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
We are aware of the increase in a number of coronavirus cases in the US and are continuously monitoring and reviewing this matter, especially as it pertains to our patients and staff. Our greatest concern is for our patients who are on prescriptions for skin, hair, or mucosal diseases that may alter and weaken the function of their immune system. For patients on these medications, if they feel like they have an infection of any sort, we recommend they hold their medication until they feel well again—having recovered from the infection.
There are many unknowns about susceptibility to the coronavirus infection and exactly why it may affect some individuals more severely than others. Certainly, it stands to reason that the medication you take does alter and, in some ways, suppress the immune system. This would raise concern it could potentially increase the severity of any infection—including a coronavirus infection. Under the current circumstances, the decision to either continue or stop your medication is not an easy one to make. If you do choose to stop it, please contact our office for alternative therapeutic options.
We understand that naturally many of our patients would have additional questions. Each person’s circumstances are unique. In addition to this information, here are two sources of information you may consider. First, the CDC government web page on coronavirus is an excellent resource.
If you feel any signs or symptoms of an infection, discontinue your medicine immediately. If these symptoms persist or worsen, consider consulting with your primary care physician or local emergency room.
For additional information about coronavirus, please refer to the CDC webpage: Frequently Asked Questions, or the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak page of the World Health Organization: Corona Virus Disease.
Medications:
Based on recent changes in recommendations by the CDC to postpone routine and non-urgent doctor visits, we are now recommending ONLY urgent face-to-face dermatologic visits and surgeries at our clinic with non-urgent issues to be seen with Telehealth. Accordingly, we still require any patient with symptoms of possible COVID-19, including fever, cough, respiratory symptoms, to not come into the office. Our protocol and recommendations will adapt as the situation unfolds over the coming weeks.
During this unprecedented time in our history we have made accommodations to meet the dermatologic needs of our patients. We are still seeing patients, with certain safety protocols per present recommendations.
IN-OFFICE: For patients whose conditions require a visit in the office, we are continuing to create an environment that is as safe as possible. These are some of the current safety protocols in place:
*All of our staff are prescreened for signs and symptoms of infection and exposure to COVID-19 daily.
*Temperatures of each staff are measured before they are allowed to work.
*All of our staff will be wearing protective equipment including masks.
*We are limiting the volume of patients to minimize exposures and wait times in our office reception area. *All seating is at a recommended distance.
*If you do have an appointment in the office, you will be REQUIRED to wear a mask or a face covering (bandana, homemade mask) for the duration of your visit.
*Prior to your visit with the provider we will be measuring temperatures and screening ALL patients for signs or symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
*Sanitizing our office waiting and reception area frequently throughout the day will continue as previous, wiping down counters, pens, door handles, etc..
*All medical exam rooms are sanitized after each patient and infection protocols will continue.As we navigate this crisis together, we will take every possible precaution to ensure the safety of our patients and staff.
COSMETIC PROCEDURES are considered non-urgent and thusly we are unable to make appointments for these until early June; this date is subject to change.
We are now scheduling live video appointments. If you would like to schedule a virtual appointment with one of our providers, please call our office at 262-290-4540 during normal business hours.
At the appointment time, your physician will contact you via a text message link you can access by just clicking on the URL. This will access a video chat function with your doctor and works with all smart phones. We also offer video based visits with either FaceTime or Skype. At present, all virtual visits will be submitted through your insurance plan, as accommodations have been made by almost all insurers, including Medicare, to cover TeleHealth visits during this time.
If you would like to schedule or have additional questions about our virtual appointments call 262-290-4540 and we'll be happy to answer your questions.
Copyright © 2018 Highlander Dermatology LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Updated May 7, 2020