FOWH WOMEN'S HEALTH
NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2020
To our patients and colleagues,

In this newsletter, we wish to bring to your attention the dire situation we all face due to the high number of patients getting sick from COVID-19. We are implementing even more stringent precautions in our office.

At the time of this newsletter, there are no ICU beds available in Southern California including at Huntington Hospital. The number of people with COVID being admitted to Huntington Hospital, where we all practice, has never been higher. Non-emergency surgeries have been cancelled due to a lack of available beds for the post-op patients. Overflow units and surge tents are being used to handle the volume of sick COVID patients.

We urge everyone to take this matter seriously. Every possible precaution must be taken to avoid being exposed to the virus. As healthcare providers, we cannot understand why so many people will not wear masks or take even minimal precautions to avoid getting sick and even worse, to avoid spreading this virus to others.

The vaccines are coming, but for the next 3-4 months they will probably all go to healthcare workers, nursing home residents and staff, first responders, and teachers. The remainder of the population who wants a vaccine probably will not get one until starting in April 2021. This information is subject to change, but this is our perception of the vaccine situation at this time.
COVID PRECAUTIONS

At FOWH, all medical assistants and providers will now wear face shields or goggles, in addition to masks, inside of the exam rooms until the number of COVID cases starts to significantly decrease.

We are implementing 2-way radios for the hallway monitor to be in constant communication with the inner office staff to minimize as much as possible the number of people in the waiting room.

If you have an annual exam (well-woman) visit scheduled soon, we ask that you consider calling us and postponing this visit for a few months. We do not plan to cancel appointments but we would like our patients to decide if they can delay this visit. If you call us to book an annual exam, we will ask you if you can delay the appt. for a few months.

WHY ARE WE SEEING SO MANY CASES NOW?
It takes 2-3 weeks from exposure to COVID before people get sick enough to need hospitalization. This huge surge is directly linked to family gatherings at Thanksgiving. Other than singing, the worst scenario for COVID transmission is eating (or drinking) with other people indoors. If one person is contagious, the air that everyone nearby breathes has the virus in it. PLEASE DO NOT REPEAT THIS SCENARIO AT CHRISTMAS TIME. There are not enough beds and ventilators in the hospitals for the next huge surge that could result from holiday family gatherings.
UPDATED FOWH CORONAVIRUS PRECAUTIONS
  1. No visitors inside the office (for exceptions, such as limited mobility, please let us know ahead of time). You may FaceTime or audio connect a guest during your medical exams as you wish. This also applies to prenatal exams and ultrasounds. Ultrasound video screens may not be recorded, per national guidelines.
  2. Prior to your appt. all patients should have received a text message requesting them to wait in their car after arrival. A second text will be sent when we are ready for you to come to the office.
  3. Once you come to the office, everyone must use our main entrance. This applies to all FOWH patients, Pasadena Pellet patients and staff.
  4. Temperature screening takes place. Anyone with a temp above 99.8 or symptoms of possible COVID-19 will have to wait outside until a provider can assess the situation.
  5. COVID SCREENING FORM: You will be presented with a written form to review and sign. Yes answers will require evaluation by a provider.
  6. Hand sanitizer is available at the front door.
  7. All patients (and staff) must wear a mask at all times while in the office. Patients need to bring their own masks.
  8. The number of patients allowed in the waiting rooms will be kept as low as possible to help maintain social distancing.
  9. Back office staff and Providers will be wearing face shields or goggles in the exam rooms.
  10. The waiting room and Primex lab are closed from 12:00 to 1:30 pm.
  11. Sneeze guards have been placed at the check-in and check-out desks. Please try to remain behind them as you talk to the staff.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Effective October 2021 Dr. Jick will stop practicing Obstetrics
His practice will focus on Gynecology Only
Starting March 1, 2021, Dr. Jick will no longer accept new OB patients or perform “Ob Consults” and will not be able to deliver any patient with a due date past mid-September 2021.

My colleagues here at Fair Oaks Women’s Health are Dr. Della Fong, Dr. Michael Mitri, Dr. Joanna Woo, and Dr. Kim Bui. They are all exceptional ob/gyn physicians, and you will receive excellent OB care from all of them.

Thank you to everyone who has allowed me to take care of them while pregnant and to help deliver their precious baby (or babies!). Being an obstetrician has brought me tremendous joy and satisfaction and has been so very rewarding. I cherish the many memories and experiences I have had and the patients I have helped."

Warmly, Bryan S. Jick, MD