Novel Corona Virus: Coping for Patients and Potential Patients

The public health impact of the COVID-19 virus is unfolding every hour, and CCBT is taking the following steps:

1. Are we open? As a behavioral health provider office, we are part of the overall healthcare system. CCBT will remain open unless the government indicates we should close.  If you know you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 or have its symptoms, please cancel your session.
2. What about Physical Distancing?
   1. Please arrive just before your appointment.
   2. If seats are unavailable, please stay standing and 3 to 5 feet from others.
   3. DO NOT SHAKE HANDS WITH OR TOUCH YOUR PROVIDER.
   4. Do not lean in to the windows when making appointments.
3. What is CCBT doing about cleaning? CCBT will begin Monday wiping down common areas with cleaning produces that the EPA indicated over the weekend can protect against the COVID-19 virus.
4. Can I do my session over the phone? We have repeatedly asked all the insurance carriers to give us this permission, and as of Monday we’ve received almost blanket refusals. We have asked to use the phone, rather than a video platform, because you may not have the capacity to use the videoconferencing, and the phone may be the easiest way to get you services.  We continue to work on this.
5. Are there video conferencing options? CCBT has obtained multiple telehealth provider seats and will begin Monday to arrange for any training your provider might need.  But we also have no way of knowing when your insurance company will let us deliver the video conferencing as a covered service.  But we continue to ask.

Self-care

WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY AND DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE.

If you are isolated and aren’t able to maintain contacts with others physically, keep in contact on the phone.  Try not to isolate.

Keep things in perspective—stick to your routines but alter your physical proximity to others and keep your hands washed.

Be informed, but not overly so—Try to capture new information as time goes by, but continuous watching of news coverage can become overwhelming and make your thinking more catastrophic.  Try to limit your exposure to the news.

What about my kids—Use this time to teach your children the notion of problem, not crisis, and coping, not avoidance.  Remember to teach them to keep to a routine, manage exposure to viruses, washing their hands, and not touching their faces.