COVID 19 Vaccine Information January 7, 2021

The Buncombe County Health Department will begin vaccinating persons 75 years and older the week of January 11th.   Patients that fall into this category can begin calling the Health Department Thursday, January 7th, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm to get scheduled at (828) 250-5000. As long as the vaccine supply is available, appointments will be available.   Please note you may experience long hold times.   Please do not call our office, as we have no control of these long wait times and will not be able to assist you with this.

When making your appointment, you will receive information on where and when to arrive for your vaccine.  Please make sure to arrive at your scheduled time.

To get more information please go to the following website https://www.buncombecounty.org/countycenter/news-detail.aspx?id=19057

CIMA will continue to give our patients updated information as it becomes available

Due to the overwhelming high volume of calls regarding distribution of the COVID vaccine. Carolina Internal Medicine wants to inform our patient of our position at this time regarding the COVID vaccine.

At this time, Carolina Internal Medicine does NOT have access to any COVID vaccines.

NC Health Human Services (NCHHS) and COVID Vaccine Management Services (CVMS) are distributing COVID vaccines.   Determination of distribution of these vaccines are being made based on high risk assessments that is those on the front line workers and nursing home facilities and then other medical providers.

There has been no determination as to when, how, and which vaccines will be available for distribution to the general public.

Carolina Internal Medicine will notify our established patients as soon as these vaccines become available via portal messages and website (carolinaim.com).

We thank you in advance for your understanding and patience as we try to prevent our phone lines and staff being tied up answering questions regarding the COVID vaccines so that we can provide ongoing care to patients with healthcare issues.

Carolina Internal Medicine Physicians

COVID 19/INFLUENZA TESTING AVAILABLE AT CAROLINA INTERNAL MEDICINE

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 4, 2021

Beginning January 4^th, 2021 Carolina Internal Medicine will offer SCHEDULED parking lot appointments with advanced practitioners for our established patients with COVID-19 and/or flu like symptoms. Additionally, this venue will be utilized to assess patients with exposure to COVID-19 or patients wishing to know their COVID status prior to travel.

During the appointment, the advanced practitioner will communicate with the patient via telephone to determine the appropriate exam and specimen collection.   If appropriate, vital signs and a focused exam with targeted specimen collection will be done without the need for patients to exit their car. This will result in an office visit charge.

Thank you!

Carolina Internal Medicine

CIMA CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION TELEHEALTH AVAILABLE   (Updated 4-1-2020)

Patients of Carolina Internal Medicine Associates:

 Carolina Internal Medicine Associates is continuing its efforts to meet your health and wellness needs during these challenging times. In that pursuit, you are now able to attend most of your health care appointments via telehealth rather than in person.  This option will allow you to connect with your health care provider virtually, while observing the safety guidelines for flattening the curve on COVID 19.  

 It is now preferred by CIMA that follow-up office visit appointments be accomplished via the telehealth platform. Our preferred platform is via our current portal called FollowMyHealth.   Appropriate sick visits may potentially also be performed via telehealth.  Usually all that is required to have a telehealth visit is an email address and a computer with a camera, or a smart phone.  

At this time, we are able to perform annual wellness exams via telehealth with the blessing of the insurance industry. 

The office does remain open with reduced personnel to meet your acute care needs. Rest assured that we are taking every precaution on disinfecting the office contact points several times daily and the exam rooms after each visit. We also are working diligently to keep any patient with respiratory symptoms out of the office. You must call to schedule any acute visit, as the walk-in clinic is currently closed.

We want to help keep you healthy and have plans in place to manage your care safely and effectively.  We will be calling to reschedule your near-term, routine appointments as telehealth visits soon, if we have not already done so. You may also contact the office if you are interested in scheduling a telehealth visit.  If you are not currently a member of FollowMyHealth and would like to join, go to www.carolinaim.com and click on Patient services “+Patient Portal Log in,” then scroll down to the “I need to sign up” box and click in the shaded areas to create an account. After registering, you will then be connected by CIMA. If you prefer, you may also call our office at 828-258-0397 to get started.

Thank you 

Carolina Internal Medicine Associates, PA

CIMA CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION (Updated 3-15-2020)

Patients of Carolina Internal Medicine Associates,

The Coronavirus (COVID 19) situation is changing daily, and we want to try to provide you the most up-to-date information possible, while keeping our patients and staff as safe as possible.

We are temporarily suspending the walk-in clinic. Despite the fact that we have had no confirmed cases of Corona virus in our office, we are trying to be proactive and properly screen and care for all of our patients.

We currently have very limited testing supplies and protective equipment to be able to test for COVID 19 and are unsure about the ability to resupply. Thus, we are asking that you follow these guidelines.

Please call our office for any acute symptoms. If you have fever and cough or shortness of breath, we will give you further instructions.  Please do not show up at the office with these symptoms, or you may be asked to return to your car and call the office for further instructions.  Nasal congestion and sinus symptoms are not usually associated with this virus.

Currently, recommended treatment for COVID-19 includes symptomatic care (fluids, rest, fever control with Tylenol or NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen).  It is recommended that people with these symptoms remain at home and self-isolate. However, if the symptoms progress, then further intervention is warranted. At that point hospitalization may be recommended and 911 should be called.

We appreciate your patience with this ever-changing situation, and please call us with any concerns or questions.

CIMA CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION (Updated 3-12-2020)

Dear CIMA Patients:

Effective immediately all patients with acute respiratory symptoms (primarily cough/fever/shortness of breath) who need to be seen in the clinic should call our office first to be scheduled after 5 pm.   We will be moving all routine visits to no later than 4 pm. We are making these changes in response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) and the evolving public health situation.

At this point in time we are NOT testing for Coronavirus. We are asking patients concerned that they may have Covid-19 to NOT come to the office but rather call for instructions.

We are taking enhanced infectious control precautions such as thoroughly cleaning exam rooms between patients, frequent hand washing, and the use of masks for ill patient in an effort to keep our patients, providers and staff safe and healthy.

We ask our patients to take their own precautions by staying abreast of NC Health Department Updates.

Your health and safety is our utmost concern.   We appreciate your confidence in us.

Sincerely,

Carolina Internal Medicine

 CIMA CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION (3-4-2020)

This message is intended to inform our CIMA patient community about our plans to address the coronavirus situation.  First and foremost we wish to keep everyone as safe as possible; this includes patients and staff. The health department and CDC recommend screening patients in the following manner.

They suggested that practices screen patients for possible infection by asking

Does the person have fever OR respiratory symptoms such as cough or shortness of breath?

AND

Has the patient traveled to an affected geographic area within 14 days of symptom onset?

OR

Has the patient had close contact with a person with COVID-19?

We will be asking these questions in an effort to gauge whether you should be seen in our clinic or in a setting that is better equipped for this situation (emergency room, etc.)

We would ask that should you meet the criteria above that you call CIMA PRIOR to your appointment so that we can engage a physician to properly triage you to the correct setting. Should you arrive and be found to meet these criteria, you will be asked to return to your car and call our office for a telephone assessment (thus not exposing the patients and staff).

Help prevent the spread….

Because this is a rapidly changing situation, the Health Department has published their telephone number to answer questions regarding travel, etc.    Please contact the Buncombe Co Health Department at 828-250-5016 for any additional questions or concerns.-