Dear Patients,
The spread of novel COVID-19 continues within Canada and the global climate has become a place of great uncertainty and worry. The current outbreak has required unprecedented changes in the way we operate our daily lives. Schools have been closed, public events have been postponed, and many businesses have been affected.
The Village Medical - Westman Village has been providing quality medical care to our patients and are proud to be a pillar of this community. As health care providers, we aspire to continue to provide necessary medical care in this challenging time to limit the burden on our hospital colleagues. We continue to receive regular updates from Alberta Health Services, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, the South Calgary Primary Care Network, and the Alberta College of Family Physicians. We are actively monitoring and following closely the recommendations from our above credible sources and physician colleagues.
On behalf of all the physicians, staff and management team, we would like to advise you of how we will continue to provide medical care to each one of you and your families in the safest way possible.
As of March 15th 2020:
1) Please DO NOT come into the clinic if you have a cough, runny nose, fever or sore throat. Alberta Health Services urges these patients to self-isolate for 14 days and contact 811 to receive further instructions.
2) If you have returned to Canada after March 12th 2020, you are strongly requested to self-isolate for 14 days whether you feel well or unwell. Those retuning from Italy, Iran or the Hubei province of China, MUST self-isolate regardless of your date of travel.
3) Use the Alberta Health Services COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool at https://myhealth.alberta.ca/journey/covid-19/Pages/COVID-Self-Assessment.aspx to determine if you should be tested for COVID-19.
4) Please attend your appointment by yourself (rather than with family members) to minimize person-to-person contact.
5) When you arrive for your appointment, please wait in your vehicle or nearby the clinic and enter the clinic no earlier than 5 minutes prior to your appointment time. For the safety of patients and our clinic staff, we are trying to minimize patients sitting in the waiting area. The goal is for you to be roomed immediately upon arrival.
6) Some appointments may be eligible for telephone consultation. This will be determined at the discretion of your physician.
7) If you call for a same day cancellation, there will be no cancellation fee.
8) Prescription refills may be eligible for renewal over the phone and the medication sent to your pharmacy by fax. Please kindly schedule a phone appointment for prescription refills by calling our clinic so that your physician can triage the request appropriately.
9) Westman village residents MAY be eligible for home visits to further avoid person-to-person contact within the medical clinic – eligibility is at the discretion of your physician.
We continue to take every precaution to follow all protocols regarding clean exam rooms and equipment and garbage disposal. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during these challenging days ahead. We wish each of your safety and health for you and your families.
With best regards,
The Village Medical team.
