03/18/2020

To All of Our Valued Patients,

First and foremost, we hope that all of you, as well as your family members, remain healthy and unaffected during this unprecedented time in which we are all concerned about the spread of this novel coronavirus. 

We are closely monitoring and following CDC guidelines, local and state guidelines, as well as guidelines set forth by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine as these guidelines relate to our patients and our practice.  The CDC has not currently recommended closure of medical practices therefore our office will remain open unless otherwise mandated.

Prior to entering our office, all patients are screened upon entry to the hospital and medical office buildings. The common goal is to prevent the spread of this virus by stopping entry into the facilities if visitors exhibit any of the following:

• Recently traveled to areas of high outbreak whether within the U. S or foreign countries.
• Exhibits signs of illness (such as cough and/or temp >100.4)
• Lives with or has had contact with someone that is ill.

Any visitor that answers affirmative to the above will be instructed to contact their physician for further advice.  We will be screening all of our upcoming appointments in the same manner in order to prevent an unnecessary visit as we will not be able to see you.   

We are limiting the number of patients in our office at one time and will be staggering appointments, including lab only appointments.  Please do not just show up at the office as you must be given a specific arrival time for all labs.  We are diligently practicing safe hygiene measures which include thorough disinfecting of every exam room between each patient, all countertops and lab chair surface between patients, and providing hand sanitizer throughout the office.  Current waiting room set-up will allow for the six foot distancing recommended by the CDC.

In order to provide a safe environment for all patients and staff we ask the following of our patients:

• Please come alone to your office visit unless we request that you have someone accompany you.  No children in the office at this time.
• Please notify our office if you have an upcoming appointment and have any signs of an illness, even if you think minor and potentially a cold or allergies.
• Upon entry into the hospital, please utilize the hand sanitizers along the hospital hallways as well as the hand sanitizers available at our front desk as you check in.
• All consults with Dr. Rodriguez will be by telephone in the form of Telemedicine.  The Texas Board of Medicine has made this temporary allowance for the foreseeable future.  Our office will be billing insurance companies or self-pay patients directly for these telephone consults.

Key Recommendations by ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine)

• Suspension of initiation of new treatment cycles to include ovulation induction , intra-uterine inseminations (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and frozen embryo transfers
• Urgent gamete cryopreservation.  This does not include patients of advanced reproductive age or diminished ovarian reserve.  Urgent gamete preservation is limited to those beginning treatment for illnesses that are considered gonadotoxic (i.e. chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment)
• Minimize in-person interaction as feasible and increase the utilization of telehealth.

Travel:

We ask that all of our patients wanting to resume treatment as soon as this health crisis has passed please do not travel out of state or the country.  This will impact our ability to move forward and you will have to wait to start treatment for a minimum of 2 weeks upon your return.

As we all navigate this very difficult and challenging time, we pray for the safety and welfare of all. Acting as responsible members of society will allow us to reduce and ultimately diminish the impact that COVID 19 has on our community and our nation.  We ask for your understanding and encourage you to reach out to our office with any specific questions and concerns you may have.  Our goal is to have each of our couples attain their dream of having a successful outcome, a pregnancy with as little stress as possible, and ultimately a healthy baby.

To learn more:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/COVID19-Traveler-

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

DSHS: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/

DCHHS: https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/2019-novel-coronavirus.php