COVID-19 INFORMATION

March 11, 2020

Chama Valley Residents,

At La Clinica del Pueblo (LCDP), we are highly sensitive to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and are working diligently to both safely and efficiently care for our community as well as maintain a safe work environment for our employees.  To this end, we are committed to following the current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations which include social distancing and minimizing clinic traffic and therefore clinic exposures; all the while maintaining a high caliber of quality medical care.  Although we recognize some of these measures may be perceived as extreme, we are also aware of the need to take immediate action to decrease the potential exposure of COVID-19 within our community.  We know that aggressive public health procedures such as these have been proven to help curtail the spread of the disease and we must all take necessary precautions to ensure the health of our community. 

LCDP will implement several major changes, which are in line with recommended national pandemic protocols:

• Until further notice, doors to LCDP will remain locked during business hours. This will assist staff in appropriately determining which patients pose a COVID-19 risk and ensuring they are cared for in a manner that decreases undue exposure to other patients and staff.  We are requesting that all patients with mobile phones call the main clinic number (575) 588-7252 to inform staff of their arrival.  If you do not own a mobile phone, please knock on the door, and staff will assist you.  This applies for all services offered within the clinic.  This pertains to all clinic patients (those with acute illness/injury as well as those with scheduled appointments).  As always, if you are experiencing a life-threatening illness/injury, please call 911. 
• With the exception of essential caregivers, only the patient will be allowed in the clinic at the time of visit.
• Initial evaluation of patients with COVID-19 symptoms will occur in the patient’s vehicle in order to protect other patients and employees from exposure.
• All patients presenting to LCDP with COVID-19 symptoms will be evaluated to determine if medical treatment is appropriate and necessary, and if so, supportive treatment will be administered. For the vast majority of people who contract COVID-19, mild symptoms/illness will be experienced.  A small minority of patients will warrant medical treatment.  Please remember there is currently no cure for COVID-19.  Please keep in mind that a majority of patients will not warrant treatment, and as such, will be sent home with instructions for self-care and self-quarantine (if COVID-19 suspected).  

We strongly suggest you further your knowledge of COVID-19 and stay abreast of developments at the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.  The New Mexico Department of Health also has very useful information at http://cv.nmhealth.org/. 

Please note that this is an evolving situation and we will continue to provide further guidance as things change.  We want to thank each of you for doing your part to stop the spread of the virus. 

 If you have any questions as to how these changes will affect you and your health care, please call LCDP.