IN THIS ISSUE
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Choosing Care Has Never Been Easier
Welcome Back! In-person or Telehealth Visits are Available
Taking Care of Yourself and Your Family
Essential Screening that Can Save Lives
What to Expect
Tips for In-Person and Virtual Health Care Visits
Injured Exercising or Playing Sports?
The Sports Medicine Team at MetroHealth is Here to Help
New! Drive-up Vaccines
Flu Vaccines Available Right From Your Car
Choosing Care Has Never Been Easier
The coronavirus crisis put non-urgent health care on hold. Screenings, elective surgeries, tests, well visits and vaccinations were all delayed to keep people from spreading the virus. But these screenings, tests and procedures are important to your health. MetroHealth is resuming care for you and your family, whether it’s in person or through a telehealth visit. How do you know whether to schedule a telehealth visit or an in-person visit? Telehealth (also called video, virtual or phone) visits offer great convenience for patients, but there are times an in-person visit is the better – or only – option you should choose. Use the information below to help you choose.
See the changes we’ve made
Want to learn more about the changes we’ve made to make it safe to visit in-person? Watch our video at https://www.skyway.healthcare/resuming-care/.
Taking Care of Yourself and Your Family
In recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic may have had you thinking twice about seeing your doctor for a regularly scheduled health screening. However, these tests shouldn’t be put off for too long, as they are vital to your overall well-being, according to James E. Misak, MD, family medicine physician and Vice Chair of Community and Population Health, MetroHealth Department of Family Medicine.
Essential Screenings that can save lives
Here are the tests Dr. Misak recommends for adults:
- Breast cancer screening every other year for women between the ages of 50 and 74 who have an average risk for breast cancer. Screening guidelines vary, so women aged 40 and older should talk to their doctor about when it is best to begin screenings.
- Cervical cancer screening with Pap smear every three years in women ages 21 to 29. For women between 30 and 65, screening should occur every three years with a Pap smear alone, every five years with high-risk human papillomavirus testing (HPV) alone, or every five years with high-risk HPV and Pap smear combined.
- Colorectal cancer screening from ages 50 to 75 years in average risk patients. If you are at greater risk for colon cancer (a family history, colorectal polyps or inflammatory bowel disease), you should begin screenings at age 45.
- Cardiovascular risk assessment that includes checking blood sugar levels for diabetes in people ages 40 to 70 who are overweight or obese. Doctors also screen for high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about the right cardiovascular risk assessment screening interval for you.
- High blood pressure screening every year in people age 40 and older and in people who are high risk. Adults ages 18 to 39 should be screened every three to five years.
In addition to taking care of yourself, be sure to ask your pediatrician what tests your child might need. Dr. Misak recommends that parents continue to keep their children up to date on vaccinations and annual wellness visits.
Make an Appointment
The best way to find out what screening tests you need is to visit your primary care physician. Use your MyChart account or call 216-778-2273 to make an appointment. If you are still uncertain about visiting your doctor on-site, our telehealth appointments are another convenient option to talk to your doctor about health screenings.
Snapshot: Fast, Easy, & Free Skin Screening
MetroHealth is now offering a simple walk-in service to help identify skin cancer. How does it work?
- Walk-in to one of our 3 designated locations (no appointment necessary).
- Our dermatology nurses will take a photo of up to two spots of concern on your skin. These photos are uploaded safely and securely into your personal health record.
- A board-certified dermatologist will then review the photos online and identify the level of risk and need (if any) for follow-up care.
Visit https://www.metrohealth.org/dermatology/snapshot for locations and more information.
In Person Visits are Safe! We’re Here for You
MetroHealth is beginning to see more patients in person again, because in many cases, it’s the only way to provide the care you need. Whether it’s time for your annual check-up, for preventive tests like mammograms and colonoscopies, for your child’s immunizations or for diagnostic procedures like cardiac stress tests, your health and the health of your family is too important to postpone necessary care.
Prior to your visit:
- If you have a MyChart account, please check in online.
- Take care of any co-pay you might have.
- If you have your own face mask, be sure to bring it with you to your appointment.
When you arrive:
- Have your face mask on when you enter; if you do not have one, we will give you one to wear during your visit.
- We will scan your forehead to make sure you don’t have a fever and check for any other respiratory symptoms as you enter the building.
- Once you have been screened, proceed to the front desk to let the staff know you have arrived for your appointment.
- Please read our Visitation Policy for details about how many people are allowed to come with you to your appointment.
- Remember to practice social distancing by following our seating and spacing guides, and stay 6 feet or more from others during your visit.
Telehealth: What to Expect in a Virtual Visit
Telehealth appointments provide easy access to get you the care you need, when you need it, without leaving your home.
What to Expect:
- Telehealth appointments usually last about 10-15 minutes.
- During this time, your clinician will ask you detailed questions about your health.
- If you need a new medication, he or she will be able to prescribe medications just like at an in-person visit.
- If you need a referral, additional care or testing, or to refill a current medication, your clinician will be able to put in all orders needed and communicate with you on next steps.
- The main difference between telehealth and in-person care is your provider’s inability to have direct, physical contact with you. Also, the quality of telehealth transmission might affect the quality of healthcare services.
Have a non-urgent health issue? Doc2Go is available anytime, anywhere
Doc2Go gives you access to care for you and your family 24/7 through phone or video visits. If Doc2Go is available through your employer benefits, be sure to register your profile today at https://login.doc2go.com/. If you’d like to join Doc2Go on your own, membership starts at just $12 per month. Learn more at www.doc2go.com.
Injured Exercising or Playing Sports?
The Sports Medicine Team at MetroHealth is Here to Help
Whether you’re a sidelined athlete focused on getting back in the game, or a weekend warrior whose goal is participating more fully in the game of life, the MetroHealth Sports Medicine team can help make it happen. The team provides immediate access to medical, surgical and rehabilitation providers trained in the evaluation and treatment of sports-related injuries. MetroHealth providers have trained at top sports programs and have experience working with pro athletes and professional teams, as well as area high schools.
Conditions We Treat
Orthopaedic injuries (adults and children 8 and older):
- Bone and joint conditions
- Back and neck pain
- Industrial injuries
Sports-related conditions (adults and children 7 and older):
- Ankle, knee and hip injuries
- Shoulder, elbow and hand injuries
- Sports-related spine injuries and concussions
- Sports-related knee injuries
- Sports-related shoulder injuries
- Running injuries
- Tennis injuries
MetroHealth Sports Medicine services are available in Broadview Heights, Cleveland Heights, Cleveland – Main Campus and Parma. For more information, visit metrohealth.org/sports-medicine. To schedule an appointment, call 216-95-SPORT (77678).
Are You or Do You Know a Medicare Patient?
Select Your Primary Clinician on MyMedicare.gov
Once you’re registered on MyMedicare.gov, you can select your primary clinician. Your primary clinician may be best able to help you make health care decisions, which can improve how you manage your health care and lead to better results. By choosing a primary clinician, your doctor may have access to more tools or services for your care available to patients of doctors participating in an Accountable Care Organization or other Medicare alternative payment models. Accountable Care Organizations are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, who come together voluntarily to give coordinated high quality care to their Medicare patients.
To learn more, call 216-957-2610 or 1-800-MEDICARE.
NEW! Drive-up Vaccines
Flu vaccines for adults & children are now available right from your car!
Learn more at https://www.metrohealth.org/get-vaccinated/flu-shots
News to Know…
NOW OPEN! New Ohio City Location
MetroHealth has opened a new health center in Ohio City at the intersection of Lorain Avenue and West 48th Street.The Ohio City Health Center offers primary care, pediatrics, behavioral health, obstetrics, gynecology and urgent care.
New Hospital Milestone
In early August, the final beam of structural steel was hoisted up to what will be the 11th floor of our new hospital and fastened into place. It was the last of about 5,200 columns and beams that make up the framework of the building. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2022.
Podcast Corner
Minding the Care Gaps
The missed, avoided and postponed health care appointments due to coronavius have created a different potential public health crisis. Dr. Bernie Boulanger, MetroHealth’s Chief Clinical Officer, discusses “care gaps” and how MetroHealth is trying to close them. Visit https://soundcloud.com/metrohealth/mind-the-care-gaps to listen.