Southwest Orlando Family Medicine has reviewed the latest CDC guidance and evaluated staff, patient, and community health and safety concerns. We have updated our Office Safety Protocol to better individualize your care while in the exam room.

• We will continue with our Car Waiting Room check-in process.
• Masks must continue to be worn by all patients when in the office, regardless of vaccination status. Common areas, such as the lobby during check in and check out, present a mixed traffic zone where vaccinated and unvaccinated patients may interact. In order to minimize risk of transmission, masking in these areas will continue to be required for all patients.
• Patients with any symptoms found on our COVID Advisory must remain masked during the entirety of their office visit, regardless of vaccination status. We have adapted the screening questionnaire based on local, national and international guidelines to balance patient safety and mitigate transmission risk. Patients who screen positive will be contacted to review their visit options, which may require a TeleHealth Visit or COVID Rapid Testing before in-office visit.
• Unvaccinated patients are required to wear masks throughout their visit and may not remove their mask unless directed by our staff. Southwest Orlando Family Medicine will be verifying vaccination status according to the Florida Shots database. Patients who receive their COVID-19 vaccine out of state will be required to produce proof of vaccination from the state registry where their vaccine was administered. Paper cards are not sufficient documentation. Click here for access to state registry information. Note: the Executive Order issues by Gov. DeSantis banning vaccine passports does not impact healthcare providers.
• SWOFM staff continues to follow internal office safety guidelines on mask usage. If you see personnel without a mask at their workstation or in general areas, be assured that they are following safety guidelines as a vaccinated individual. All unvaccinated staff will remain masked at all times. Please note that some office staff may choose to continue wearing a mask after vaccination, which we respect and support.

We are still working diligently to keep you safe when visiting our offices. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to update our policies and care for our community.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1) Can I bring someone with me to my visit now?

If you require mobility or language assistance during your visit, we are allowing one companion or caregiver to accompany you. Please note, masking and vaccination guidelines will apply to any companion.

2) I have chronic migraines/headaches, which are on the COVID symptom screening. What should I do?

Unfortunately, headaches and other symptoms may be common COVID symptoms as well. For vaccinated individuals, masks will be required during your visit as an extra precaution. For unvaccinated individuals, you can be pre-tested for COVID before entering the office and may be required to wear a mask during your evaluation.

3) I have Asthma/COPD, wearing a mask makes me feel more breathless. What is the policy for this?

If you’re vaccinated, we still require wearing a mask in the lobby areas and during check in/check out. Once you are in the exam room, our staff will advise on whether you can remove your mask based on your symptoms and your vaccination history. Please note, for unvaccinated patients, masking guidelines may remain during the entirety of their visit.

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Pre-Visit Screening Questionnaire: The following screening questions apply to all patients in order to protect our patient population and keep our facilities low risk.

 

Patients who screen positive will be contacted to review their visit options, which may require a TeleHealth Appointment or COVID Rapid Testing before in-office visit.

TeleHealth Appointments offer a variety of care opportunities for clinicians and patients and can be used to diagnose, treat and direct further care. These virtual visits can be completed from the comfort of your home, via smartphone or computer. Please note that TeleHealth Appointments do not limit future office access opportunities. You can read more about virtual visits and how to book your online appointment by visiting our TeleHealth Appointments Page.

All Florida residents are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine as of April 2021. The CDC has approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine for those 5 years and older. Southwest Orlando Family Medicine endorses all eligible patients receive any version of the COVID-19 vaccine currently available. For COVID-19 vaccine safety, eligibility, benefits, and side effects, please visit our COVID-19 Vaccine blog. For answers to your questions about COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 FAQ blog.

Patients can visit the state of Florida vaccine site locator and register now. Patients can also register at the Federal website FLVAX and visit vaccinefinder.org for the latest on vaccine inventory. Please visit the following links for additional scheduling resources in Central Florida:

• Orange County COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
• Seminole County COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
• Osceola County COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Publix COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Walmart COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Sam’s Club COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Winn-Dixie COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Frequently Asked Questions (Vaccines)

1. Does SWOFM have COVID-19 vaccines available?

Southwest Orlando Family Medicine does not have COVID-19 vaccines; however, we do offer COVID-19 tests including rapid testing.

2. Who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine booster?

COVID-19 vaccine boosters have been authorized by the CDC for everyone ages 16 and older.

3. When should I get the COVID-19 vaccine booster?

Per CDC guidelines, at least 6 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series for Pfizer and Moderna OR at least 2 months after completing your Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

4. Is there COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for patients based on specific conditions or concerns?

6. I am vaccinated and have COVID-19 (called a “breakthrough” case), what do I do?

Schedule a telehealth appointment with your clinician if you have symptoms that are uncontrolled. Those over the age of 40 with hypertension, asthma, obesity, diabetes, or medications that suppress immune system, should obtain a pulse oximetry device to monitor oxygen levels (levels should remain over 92%). You may also seek additional counseling from your clinical team. If your oxygen levels reduce below 92% for more than 15-30 minutes, then seek immediate ER attention and/or call 911 for support.

7. I am vaccinated and have met CDC criteria for COVID-19 exposure, what do I do?

If you have met the criteria for positive COVID-19 exposure, it’s recommended at this time to self-monitor for potential COVID symptoms. If you do test, the best time to test if 5-7 days after known exposure. If you do not have symptoms, it is not recommended to test during COVID surges at this time.

8. Someone in my household is sick with COVID-19, what should I do?

Any sick individuals should mask in the home and otherwise avoid co-habitation spaces when possible to minimize exposure to others. All parties should remain masked if within close proximity in the home.

9. If I’ve already had COVID-19, do I need to retest?

If it has been more than 45 days from your infection and you develop new symptoms, schedule a telehealth appointment with your clinician. If you have not had any symptoms since your last infection, retesting is typically not needed for 90 days.

10. I’ve tested positive for COVID-19, how long should I quarantine for? 

General guidelines for quarantining are below. Please speak with your clinician for specific, individual guidance or any questions or concerns.

Fully vaccinated, no symptoms, quarantine period: 5-7 days

Not or partial vaccinated, no symptoms, quarantine period: 10-14 days

Fully vaccinated, symptomatic, quarantine period: 7-10 days

11. My employer says I need a negative COVID test to return to work, what do I do?

Please visit our section on Return to Work Guidance.

COVID-19 vaccine boosters have been authorized by the CDC for everyone ages 16 and older. COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death even with new variants. Breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated can still occur.

If you are 18 years or older, you may choose which COVID-19 vaccine you receive as a booster shot. Some people may prefer the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.

Please note that qualified individuals do not need written authorization or a letter from their doctor to obtain a vaccine booster. For further questions, please contact us via the Patient Portal.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as local, state, and national guidelines are updated. We will continue to update our Patient Advisory as more information is released. For vaccine locations, please visit our COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory.

Monoclonal antibody therapy can prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death in high-risk patients who have contracted or been exposed to COVID-19.

• Treatment is free and vaccination status does not matter. If you are 12 years and older and are at high risk for severe illness due to COVID-19, you are eligible for this treatment.
• In clinical trials, monoclonal antibody treatment showed a 70% reduction in hospitalization and death.
• For high-risk patients who have been exposed to someone with COVID19, Regeneron can give you temporary immunity to decrease your odds of catching the infection by over 80%.

Please note that supply limitations may impact your access to this type of treatment. To learn more about Monoclonal Antibody Therapy, including locations and scheduling, please visit the FL Department of Health.

As global vaccination efforts continue, we are seeing increasing interest in domestic and international travel. Due to the risk of rapidly developing COVID-19 variants, our clinical team strongly recommends that patients avoid unnecessary international travel. Domestic travel does not seem to pose any immediate cause for concern. Florida has seen a growing number of highly contagious COVID-19 variants. While hospitalization risks are lower in vaccinated persons, variants present the risk of continued spread of the virus in unvaccinated patients and further mutations of the virus, creating more pandemic challenges in the months ahead.

If you decide to travel during this time, Southwest Orlando Family Medicine advises patients to take appropriate precaution and to follow masking and distancing guidelines. Travel restrictions and guidelines may vary from region to region, and your destination may require a negative COVID-19 test letter. Southwest Orlando Family Medicine offers Rapid Testing and Laboratory Molecular Testing, considered to be the gold standard in COVID testing. We are able to provide a negative test letter for patients who set up an appointment with us and test negative.

For more information on travel, we recommend reviewing CDC resources for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers participating in both domestic travel and international travel. Patients can visit the CDC’s COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination, which provides a breakdown of High, Moderate, and Low travel risks based on destination. We encourage patients engaging in domestic travel to review TSA Guidelines and State & Territorial Health Departments, which may provide additional details on locations impacted by the pandemic. There are also a variety of independent website reviewing travel requirements, include The Points Guy.

COVID-19 Rapid Testing is available at Southwest Orlando Family Medicine. We offer the highest standards in COVID-19 Testing, including Laboratory PCR Test (Molecular) and Rapid Test (Antigen). Molecular testing is considered the “gold standard” in COVID-19 testing. Rapid Antigen Test offers high sensitivity / high specificity test results for non-symptomatic patients with no known positive contact who are interested in precautionary screening. All of the provided testing methods require Nasal Swabs. We do not offer Antibody testing. Please note that some insurances may no longer offer 100% coverage on tests. Reach out to your insurance provider for more information.

Based on your symptoms and potential exposure, we can test up to 3 common Upper Respiratory conditions, including COVID-19, the Flu, and Strep Throat. Each illness may require a specific swab for testing.

COVID-19 Testing Guidelines

• If you are not vaccinated and have been exposed to someone who has tested positive, quarantine immediately and call us to pre-schedule your test for 5-7 days after the exposure occurred OR if you develop symptoms.
• If you are vaccinated and have been exposed to someone who has tested positive, you do not have to quarantine (unless you develop symptoms). Continue to monitor for any COVID-like symptoms and contact our office to get tested if symptoms occur.
• If you have not been exposed and do not have symptoms, you can still be tested with Rapid Antigen testing and receive same-day results.
• If you have symptoms that could be COVID-19, you must schedule a TeleHealth Appointment and receive clinical consultation prior to testing. Your TeleHealth Appointment and consultation will determine the type of testing offered.

For more information on the different types of tests and what they do, review the testing types chart below. You can learn more about the types of testing at the FDA Coronavirus Testing Basics website.

For patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, our Clinical Team has evaluated the CDC’s Return to Work interim guidance and advises the following:

• Workforce members who have tested positive may return to work on day five if:
  • they were continuously asymptomatic or
  • symptoms have completely resolved for 24-hours without anti-fever medication or
  • symptomatic (day 5-9) but symptoms have improved AND
    • no fever for 24-hours without anti-fever medication and
    • received one negative antigen test or one negative PCR test
• Staff with mild-to-moderate illness can return to work without testing on day 10.

CDC has also provided the following info charts on COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation.

For patients who test positive, continue to follow precautions while at home:

• Minimize exposure to others in the household by keeping quarantined in a room whenever possible.
• Clean materials routinely in the room and surfaces in the house you may come into contact with.
• Wear a mask if in close contact with others in the household and limit in-person contact to under 15 minutes. (Note: Distancing guidelines still apply)

Recent studies reinforce that repeated testing is not needed after testing positive. If your employer requests additional testing, Southwest Orlando Family Medicine can provide a work letter based on CDC guidance. If a letter is not accepted by your employer, we encourage you to direct them to the CDC website and engage with your HR office. If newly symptomatic 45 days from your last test, re-testing will be handled on a case-by-case basis after a TeleHealth Appointment.

Note: Testing results are currently averaging up to 48 hours for most PCR test. COVID Rapid Testing kits with same-day results are now available, based on supply.

COVID-19 symptoms can be similar to cold, flu and allergy symptoms. This chart below provides some reference to symptoms and potential causes. Other bacterial and viral infections may also be the cause of these symptoms.