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Righttime Medical Care, one the region’s largest urgent medical care providers, is preparing for the threat of the Ebola virus. Righttime’s clinical and support teams will professionally and safely address all patients who call or visit the company’s Care Centers, in line with evolving CDC guidelines.
Righttime is actively coordinating with local hospitals and health departments where its 13 Care Centers are located to make arrangements for communication regarding suspected Ebola patients. Because Righttime Care Centers have extended hours, additional coordination with health authorities is often required, especially on weekends and holidays.
“We have been very pleased with the response of the Montgomery, Baltimore, Howard, Anne Arundel and Frederick County Health Departments, who have worked with us to ensure we have access to them during the hours we are open, which extend well beyond regular working hours,” says Robert G. Graw, Jr., M.D, CEO of Righttime Medical Care. “At this time of fear and worry among patients, we want the public to know that there are many resources in the community being coordinated to protect them.”
Additionally, Righttime’s Call Center, which makes appointments for more than 80 percent of its patients, has instituted a screening system for all calls to determine whether patients have traveled to countries identified by the CDC as having high incidences of Ebola virus. This allows Righttime to coordinate these patients’ care with a suitable local healthcare facility or hospital rather than coming to the urgent care center.
Righttime patients are always encouraged to call ahead for an appointment so they can wait at home until their designated time. Through its 24-hour Communication and Resource Center, Righttime has implemented strict guidelines for suspected Ebola patients, including arranging for immediate consultation with the supervising medical director as well as isolated patient transport to hospitals.
According to Dr. Graw, “Our Call and Communication and Resource Centers have allowed us to respond to the Ebola threat in a way that others can’t, and will minimize the risk to patients and staff with suspected transmissible diseases such as Ebola. Protocols and educational training, and coordination with our local healthcare partners, are key to containing Ebola. We also remind everyone that Ebola is extremely rare, and is only communicable through bodily fluids.”
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