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Looking for Healthcare? Just Choose Your Chair
Looking for Healthcare?
Whether you choose an in-person physician visit or access virtual care from home, Warren Clinic and Laureate offer more ways for patients to access the healthcare services they need during the era of COVID-19.
Judging by the tens of thousands of patients who have already opted to utilize Warren Clinic Virtual Care to access primary care, specialty and urgent care services since March of this year, it’s safe to say that virtual health services have become part of our new normal.
While the direction of healthcare was already set on a trajectory towards advanced digital and expanded virtual health services across the board, the era of COVID-19 accelerated all of that. Saint Francis and Warren Clinic have implemented video visits for patients to provide safe, efficient and convenient methods to get the care they need.
“At Saint Francis, we are blessed to have an administrative team and technology services that have already made great progress in the development of virtual health,” says Dr. Dana Davis, medical director of Urgent Care at the Warren Clinic Springer Building. “It’s been wonderful to see how the community has embraced the ease of virtual care, and more recently Urgent Care video visits. Patients of all ages really love it and we’ve received nothing but very positive feedback.” Providing Care During COVID-19 Over the past several months, virtual care has been highly utilized by those with suspected cases of COVID-19. As the pandemic continues, and with flu season quickly approaching, video visits serve as a safe way for a patient to triage their symptoms, get an order for testing and further medical guidance.
“We have found video visits are effective in accessing patients who are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms and directing them to where they need to be to receive appropriate care. What’s more, we’ve discovered that seeing patients who may have COVID-19 by video (rather than coming to an actual urgent care facility) goes a long way in lessening the likelihood of exposure to others,” says Dr. Davis.
For patient Maura Guten, CEO of Tulsa’s Child Abuse Network, the ability to access a virtual urgent care visit was a game changer for her and her family. In
Dana Davis, M.D., Warren Clinic urgent care physician
late August, during a busy week at the Children’s Advocacy Center, she began to develop some upper respiratory symptoms and a headache. Knowing these were signs of a possible coronavirus infection, she knew she needed to distance herself from others and quarantine at home. “I was able to work remotely, but I wasn’t able to parent virtually. The convenience of being able to have an urgent care visit between work calls and caring for my kids was fantastic.”
“When I logged on, I was surprised and comforted to immediately recognize the doctor on the other end of the call. It’s reassuring to know that the person I’m seeing is part of the health system I’ve been going to for most of my life,”
Guten added, “Warren Clinic had access to my medical history through MyChart. The doctor evaluated my symptoms, quickly ordered lab testing and provided a care plan and instructions.”
It’s not only safety, but convenience that is drawing more and more patients to seek virtual care services— especially Warren Clinic Urgent Care. Recent statistics cited by the Saint Francis Institute for Emerging Technologies indicated that more than 70,000 video visits have taken place since implementation of the program this year. That adds up to a lot of time and miles saved for many patients traveling to and from appointments.
“Depending on their health status or condition, most patients still should be seen in person, but for minor or acute concerns, Warren Clinic Virtual Urgent Care enables us to take care of our patients as if we were in the same room with them,” says Dr. Davis. “There’s a wide array of symptoms that can be actively accessed through Video Visits, such as examining a patient’s throat; monitoring breathing patterns or inspecting skin tones.”
“At Warren Clinic, we anticipate great things on the horizon with this platform of care. By year-end, we plan to expand even further by providing 24/7 access to our urgent care services,” said Dr. Davis. “When that happens, it means no matter where you live in Oklahoma, patients will soon be able to access Warren Clinic Urgent Care anytime, day or night.”
For more information about Warren Clinic Virtual Care, or to schedule an in-clinic or Virtual Care appointment, please visit saintfrancis.com/AtHome.
Just Choose Your Chair.
Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital: Virtual Care Services for Behavioral Health
In the earliest days of COVID-19, Laureate experienced an immediate uptick in face-to-face patient visits.
Then, as the pandemic wore on and fears of leaving home became more pronounced, an abrupt decrease in patient visits ensued. To the Laureate team, this clearly indicated their patients’ fears and concerns about leaving home were preventing them from receiving the treatment they desperately needed.
“We knew above all else, we had to meet our patients’ needs,” said Brandon Keppner, executive director, Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital. “So, we moved as quickly as possible to put the pieces in place to provide a virtual style of care, (e.g., video visits). Thankfully, the majority of our patients responded well to this—and for those who struggled, we accommodated their needs as safely and effectively as possible. In many instances, patients who were initially unsure about video visits are now quite comfortable with this type of care.”
Brandon Keppner, executive director, Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital
Contact us for more information on in-office or Virtual Care services:
Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital
Outpatient Behavioral Health Services 918-491-3700 saintfrancis.com/laureate
When Laureate first began offering video visits, about 75 percent of its outpatient visits were conducted virtually—which more recently have been holding steady at about 60 percent.
“Our patients seem to really appreciate having this option. Generally, we’ve found that whether a patient prefers a video visit—or to meet in person— depends entirely on that individual, and on the type of work we are doing with them,” Keppner said. “For the past 10 to 12 years, I’ve heard talk about a virtual
healthcare trend in behavioral health. It never really took hold because of specific rules and requirements—which were recently loosened due to COVID-19. My hope is that we can continue to provide virtual care—particularly during these unsettled times—for patients throughout the area.”
For sudden illnesses, minor injuries and after-hours care that can’t wait, Warren Clinic Urgent Care is ready to serve you and your family seven days a week—with even more convenient care options. In addition to in-office visits, Warren Clinic Urgent Care locations and their healthcare providers offer Video Visits for adult and pediatric patients. To learn more or to schedule an appointment at any of our Warren Clinic Urgent Care locations, please visit saintfrancis.com/urgentcare or call the location nearest you.
URGENT CARE HOURS:
Monday–Friday: Saturday:
Sunday:
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (all locations) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Springer location) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (all other locations) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (all locations)
WARREN CLINIC URGENT CARE LOCATIONS
TULSA Springer Building
6160 South Yale Avenue 918-495-2600
Tulsa Hills
7858 South Olympia Avenue 918-986-9250
South Memorial
10506 South Memorial Drive 918-943-1050
BROKEN ARROW Elm Place
2950 South Elm Place, Suite 120 (101st Street and Elm Place) 918-451-5191
Kenosha
1801 East Kenosha Street (71st Street and OK-51) 918-449-4150
SAND SPRINGS
102 South Main Street 918-246-5750
FLU SEASON AND COVID-19
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
As with most everything else this year, the upcoming flu season will be viewed through a lens of concern with COVID-19 still in our midst.
The prospect of having these viruses circulating at the same time, one currently without a vaccine and very similar in symptoms, is weighing heavily on the minds of healthcare providers everywhere. It will take a concerted effort on everyone’s part to mitigate what could potentially be a challenging situation.
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To reduce the impact on our communities, hospitals and healthcare systems, doctors agree that it’s imperative that everyone older than six months of age gets a flu vaccination as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Influenza and COVID-19 share many overlapping symptoms, making it difficult to discern between one another,” said Dr. Debra Murray, epidemiologist and medical director of Saint Francis Infection Control Services.
“It could be very possible and detrimental if a person got both the flu and COVID-19. We don’t know exactly how that would play out, which is why we highly recommend getting the flu vaccine this year.”
Even with the ongoing situation of COVID-19 this season, flu prevention measures remain the same at Saint Francis Health System. “While we’re learning more each day about COVID-19, we have decades of research at our disposal in regards to flu prevention, including modeling and tracking it’s impact in other countries,” said Dr. Murray. “Our flu prevention measures remain consistent and we will continue to coordinate in the best way to get vaccinations out to the community.”
“This year the community flu vaccination efforts, led by Warren Clinic, will be different with drive-thru vaccination services with social distancing and universal masking in place,” said Dr. Lance King, medical director of Warren Clinic. “Saint Francis Health System also has the goal of one hundred percent vaccination among its employees to provide the best, safest coverage as healthcare providers.”
– Dr. Lance King, medical director of Warren Clinic
COVID-19 and the flu are both contagious respiratory illnesses caused by different viruses—and symptoms of each are so very similar.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you are showing symptoms of either the flu or COVID-19, it's important to contact your physician for triage, lab test orders and care guidance.
For detailed information about the key differences between the flu and COVID-19, please visit www.CDC.gov. While the efficacy of flu vaccination may vary from year to year, based on the circulation of various strains of influenza, the overall impact on the nation’s healthcare system is significant. In a time where COVID-19 has already taxed and overwhelmed healthcare providers, helping ease that pressure by simply getting a flu shot is one way the public can support front line workers.
“The CDC recommends everyone get a flu shot in October if possible,” said Dr. King. “The reasoning behind this is that we cannot predict exactly when the virus will arrive and early distribution will allow people to build antibodies to influenza which can remain effective up to five or six months later.”
If you are unsure of your health status in regards to getting the flu vaccine, speak with your primary care physician. There are different vaccination options available, with each providing valuable coverage during a flu season. For example, the intranasal vaccine is indicated only for healthy persons ages 2 through 49.
“Egg allergy is no longer a contraindication to getting a flu shot,” said Dr. Murray. “Pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised especially need the flu shot, they just should not get the live attenuated (intranasal) vaccine.” “The most important message is that the flu vaccine is really for overall public health.”
Certainly the concern of a “twindemic” this flu season has healthcare providers planning early for the fall and winter. However, there is a glimmer of hope to the moment, which are the current pandemic safety and hygiene measures already in place for COVID-19.
Wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently as well as cleaning highly used surfaces and practicing social distancing could contribute to lessening the severity of this year’s flu cases.
“There are reports coming in from health experts in the southern hemisphere where the flu seems to be having less of an impact than previous years. They think it’s secondary to people practicing social distancing, masking and more robust hygiene because of the pandemic,” said Dr. Murray.
That’s a good thing. One that we should all continue to be vigilant about each day.
For more current information regarding this year’s flu season as well as COVID-19 updates, please visit: cdc.gov/flu.
WARREN CLINIC DRIVE-THRU FLU VACCINATIONS
Saint Francis and Warren Clinic are here to help you stay healthy and avoid the flu. Visit one of our local drive-thru flu vaccination clinics in Tulsa or Muskogee—no appointment needed. Drive-thru flu vaccinations are available to those aged 9 and older*. The cost of a flu shot is covered by most insurance plans. High-dose flu vaccine is available to those aged 65 and older. Visit saintfrancis.com/flu for more information or call 918-488-6688.
TULSA AREA
Warren Clinic Tower
6600 South Yale Northwest Parking Lot Tulsa, OK 74136 October 1 - November 6 Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
MUSKOGEE AREA
Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee–East Campus
2900 North Main Street Muskogee, OK 74401 October 12 - 14 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. October 19 - 21 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
*COVID-19 safety precautions will be in place at each flu vaccination clinic site.
