We believe in end-to-end patient care. We don’t just test for and diagnose COVID19, we guide our patients through the entirety of the coronavirus infection with testing and treatment available in under one hour.
Our clinicians will monitor your condition throughout your recovery process with simple texting methods. We care about your recovery and can continue to monitor your condition with the assistance of our sister practice, Grand River Family Care. If symptoms are mild, we typically treat this as a common viral illness and treat symptomatically. We can provide more advanced care with a variety medications and treatment modalities, if more severe. We can provide respiratory medications to keep your airways open and alleviate other symptoms or manage evolving complications. When necessary, we can provide access to FDA EUA currently approved antiviral therapy or monoclonal antibodies as noted below.
When recovering at home, here are a few recommendations to consider on your road to wellness:
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Stay home except to get medical care.
- Stay home. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.
- Take care of yourself. Get rest and stay hydrated. Take over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen, to help you feel better.
- Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you have trouble breathing, or have any other emergency warning signs, or if you think it is an emergency.
- Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.
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Separate yourself from other people.
As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. If possible, you should use a separate bathroom. If you need to be around other people or animals in or outside of the home, wear a mask.
Tell your close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person has any symptoms or tests positive. By letting your close contacts know they may have been exposed to COVID-19, you are helping to protect everyone.
- Additional guidance is available for those living in close quarters and shared housing.
- See COVID-19 and Animals if you have questions about pets.
- If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, someone from the health department may call you. Answer the call to slow the spread.
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Monitor your symptoms.
Key symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, chest pain and shortness of breath but can include other symptoms.
Follow care instructions from RediCare Okemos, your healthcare provider and/or the state or local county health department. Your local health authorities may give instructions on checking your symptoms and reporting information.
If warranted, keep track of your key vital signs
Temperature – electronic thermometer
Pulse – finger pulse oximeter or electronic blood pressure cuff
Oxygen levels — % oxygen level with a pulse oximeter
Blood pressure – electronic blood pressure cuff
Contact RediCare Okemos or your provider if your condition worsens.
If your condition becomes emergent, seek emergency medical care immediately:
Trouble breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion
Inability to wake or stay awake
Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.
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If you are sick, wear a mask over your nose and mouth.
- You should wear a mask over your nose and mouth if you must be around other people or animals, including pets (even at home).
- You don’t need to wear the mask if you are alone. If you can’t put on a mask (because of trouble breathing, for example), cover your coughs and sneezes in some other way. Try to stay at least 6 feet away from other people. This will help protect the people around you.
- Masks should not be placed on young children under age 2 years, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is not able to remove the mask without help.
Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical grade facemasks are reserved for healthcare workers and some first responders.
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Cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Throw away used tissues in a lined trash can.
- Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
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Clean your hands often.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
- Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
- Soap and water are the best option, especially if hands are visibly dirty.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Handwashing Tips
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Avoid sharing personal household items.
- Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people in your home.
- Wash these items thoroughly after using them with soap and water or put in the dishwasher.
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Clean all “high-touch” surfaces everyday.
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your “sick room” and bathroom; wear disposable gloves. Let someone else clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas, but you should clean your bedroom and bathroom, if possible.
- If a caregiver or other person needs to clean and disinfect a sick person’s bedroom or bathroom, they should do so on an as-needed basis. The caregiver/other person should wear a mask and disposable gloves prior to cleaning. They should wait as long as possible after the person who is sick has used the bathroom before coming in to clean and use the bathroom.
High-touch surfaces include phones, remote controls, counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables.
- Clean and disinfect areas that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them.
- Use household cleaners and disinfectants. Clean the area or item with soap and water or another detergent if it is dirty. Then, use a household disinfectant.
- Be sure to follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product. Many products recommend keeping the surface wet for several minutes to ensure germs are killed. Many also recommend precautions such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
- Use a product from EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19)external icon.
- Complete Disinfection Guidance