Our top priority at Atlantic Digestive Specialists is the safety and wellbeing of our patients and staff. With that in mind, we are taking precautions and following CDC guidelines to minimize your risk of exposure to COVID-19.
We apologize for any inconvenience these measures may cause but ask that you bear with us as we navigate the changes that have occurred because of the spread of the Coronavirus in this region.
Office Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic
New Hampshire’s governor has determined that Atlantic Digestive Specialists provides an essential service and is not required to close during the stay at home order presently in effect.
We continue to take all necessary precautions to protect the health of our patients who visit our practices in-person. However, we are also limiting the number of in-person visits to reduce direct contact as much as possible.
Patients who need to be seen in the office should call 603-692-2228 for an appointment at our Portsmouth or Somersworth offices, Monday through Friday. Other patients may have an online telemedicine visit using a computer or smart device that allows audio or video options.
Please call with any questions or concerns about an upcoming appointment.
Telemedicine
We are currently scheduling most patients to have a medical provider visit via a telemedicine linkup. This is so we can minimize concerns about spreading the COVID-19 virus while responding to the necessary healthcare needs of our patients.
If you have a scheduled telemedicine appointment, you will be sent a link to join your visit. We will request that you log in five minutes before your appointment time. You will need to have an internet connection on a device with a camera and a microphone.
Infusion Therapy
We will continue to provide infusions to treat our patients with gastrointestinal diseases or disorders that prevent the normal functioning of the digestive system, such as Crohn’s Disease. From what we know of COVID-19 today, experts say there is a lower risk involved in continuing infusion treatments than there is in having a flare-up of your disease.
Non-urgent Elective Procedures
We have decided to delay all procedures that are elective and non-urgent, based on new recommendations from the gastroenterology professional societies. Because of the evolving nature of this situation, we cannot make a determination yet about when such procedures will be rescheduled. Your physician will review your case to determine whether your procedure will need to be rescheduled. Please contact our office if you have any questions regarding a scheduled procedure.
Visitors
Only our patient and a child, if no one else is with you to care for the child, will be seen by your medical provider. Others are requested to wait in our reception area.
Additional Resources
For up-to-date information about the Coronavirus:
CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
DHHS Bureau of Infectious Disease:
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/2019-ncov.htm
WHO:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
We will continue to update this page as information is rapidly evolving.
