BELGRADE — Plans for a phased reopening Montana doesn’t mean an end to the current coronavirus pandemic with doctors say now more than ever is the time to practice safety and sanitation because it’s better to be safe than sorry.
“This is the new normal, and it’s not going to go away anytime soon as far as the potential for another peak, and so it really has allowed us to look at different options,” explained Dr. Philip Bain with the Bozeman Health Belgrade Clinic and Urgent Care.
Options created to help decrease the anxiety many people have relating to the virus.
“The entire way we deliver care for patients turned upside down. COVID virus pandemic has really forced us to find alternative ways to connect with patients,” Dr. Bain said.
Clinics around the country are relying heavily on virtual appointments to minimize contact between sick patients, "teleHealth can be used for virtually any type of visit where a patient has a medical need or medical question or concern,” Dr. Bain said.
This digital appointment has become increasingly popular, but that face-to-face option is still available.
“It’s kind of all over the map. Some people would prefer face-to-face. For example, a lot of older patients, and in internal medicine, we see a lot of older patients and so often times, they would prefer a face-to-face visit,” he explained.
Dr. Bain believes whichever you prefer is better than the third alternative, "and so, the alternative is no visit. We really want people to seek care rather than stay at home and worry."
Like Dr. Bain mentioned, if you have any reason to believe you have the virus or may have been exposed to it, you need to contact your normal healthcare provider immediately.
