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COVID-19 Information and Resources

Need COVID-19 Testing? Click here.

 

Keeping You Safe & Healthy Through COVID-19

Coastal’s highest priority remains keeping you safe and healthy. We have taken steps to ensure that we can provide the care you need while helping to protect everyone from potential exposure to the coronavirus.

We will be reaching out to patients who need to be seen for an in-person appointment and scheduling these visits. When an in-person visit isn’t necessary, we continue to be committed to caring for you through telemedicine visits.


In-person Care

During in-person visits, the high-quality care that you have come to expect from us will remain the same, but it will look a bit different than before the pandemic.
 
Changes to keep patients and staff safe during in-person visits will include:
  • Making an appointment to visit the office under any circumstance
  • Waiting in the car until your clinician is ready to see you for your appointment
  • Screening patients for COVID-19 symptoms before their appointment
  • Wearing a SURGICAL Mask* that covers the nose and mouth at all times into the building and office (patients & staff)
  • Practicing appropriate social distancing guidelines
  • Allowing additional time between appointments to thoroughly clean our offices

*If you do not have a surgical mask, one will be provided to you. This may not apply to children of a certain age or individuals who have been advised not to wear a mask for health reasons. 

While this is a change from what we are all used to, please know that we are doing everything we can to keep you and our staff safe during these unprecedented times.


Sick Care

ADULT Patients: If you are sick DURING office hours, please call your Coastal clinician as soon as possible so we can arrange care for you in a timely manner. If you are sick AFTER office hours, Coastal's adult patients can receive care through Coastal365 sick appointments on evenings, weekends and holidays (1-800-822-5981).* We will contact you directly to offer advice and treatment. If you are concerned that you have coronavirus, please let your Coastal clinician know and we will arrange testing for you.

PEDIATRIC Patients:  If your child is sick DURING or AFTER office hours, please call your child’s Coastal pediatrician at your earliest convenience so we can arrange care in a timely manner. We will contact you directly to offer advice and treatment. In many cases, telemedicine visits will be the appropriate method of care to keep patients safe.  If you are concerned that your child has coronavirus, please let your child’s Coastal pediatrician know and we will coordinate testing for you. 

ALL Patients: For everyone's safety, please DO NOT walk into any of our offices before calling us first.

*In the event of a true emergency, call 9-1-1.


COVID-19 Testing for Coastal Patients

We have received many questions from Coastal Medical patients regarding COVID-19 testing. Please use this link to view answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Coastal Medical is committed to helping improve access to testing for COVID-19 for Coastal Medical patients with symptoms (symptomatic).

For information about receiving testing and links to additional resources, please use the drop-downs below:
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COVID Testing
Coastal Medical Patients ONLY:

  • Adult patients requesting COVID testing at Coastal Medical:  Please send a patient portal message to your office and schedule a Coastal365 Adult Respiratory Clinic visit.
  • Pediatric patients requesting COVID testing at Coastal Medical: Please send us a message through the patient portal or call your practice directly.
  • To self-schedule at a RIDOH testing location for both adult and pediatric patients: please visit portal.ri.gov

 

Current Booking/Result Times for Testing:

Coastal Medical:
- Test booked: Next day
- Rapid test results received: Same day as test
- PCR test results received: 3-5 days

Note: Symptomatic patients (those with symptoms) will get swabbed twice during your appointment (Rapid test & PCR test). If the Rapid test results are negative the day of your appointment, the PCR test is used to confirm those results. Asymptomatic patients (those without symptoms) will get swabbed only using the rapid test unless specified by their primary care provider.


Click here for alternative Respiratory Clinic and Testing site locations.

Receiving Your Results

What to expect

During this public health crisis, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) may be in touch with you about your COVID-19 test results for contact tracing purposes.

Please Note:

  • The RIDOH may contact you with results before your primary care clinician receives them.

  • Many labs reach out to patients with results directly to ensure timely access to results.

  • Results can be accessed in different ways – please see below for details.

 

How to access your results

Coastal Medical locations:

You will be able to access results for testing completed at a Coastal Medical location once your results have been reviewed by your clinician. The results will be available on Coastal Medical’s patient portal: coastalmedical.com/patient-portal

Coastal’s testing sites currently utilize East Side Clinical Lab (ESCL). You can access the ESCL portal at: escl.luminatehealth.com

RIDOH/National Guard Sites:

The fastest way to access results for testing performed through an RIDOH/National Guard location is by visiting portal.ri.gov/results.  You can log in to this website with your name, date of birth, testing date and phone number. 

For issues accessing these test results, you can contact the RI Department of Health: 401-222-8022

Please Note: there may be a delay in these results being shared with your primary care clinician.

Additional COVID-19 Resources

Alternative Respiratory Clinic and Testing Site locations
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ARn3Ol3PKnXqEbf1FHTx8aegancLZpPMZGt5ChuaWFs

Common questions asked by Coastal patients about COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19 Testing: Frequently Asked Questions

When to isolate for or quarantine for COVID-19
https://health.ri.gov/covid/whattodo/.
View graphic

Tips for at-home quarantining or self-monitoring
https://health.ri.gov/publications/factsheets/COVID19-At-Home-Quarantine.pdf

COVID-19 Incubation Timeline (Graphic)
https://coastalmedical.com/documents/COVID19-Incubation-Timeline.pdf

Travel Tips
https://coastalmedical.com/documents/RIDOH_COVID_TRAVEL_TIPS_10.21.2020.pdf

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever or chills
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Runny nose or stuffy nose
  • Fatigue
  • Recent loss of taste or smell

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.



COVID-19 Vaccine & Treatment

For information about the COVID-19 vaccine and treatment, please use the drop-downs below:
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Vaccine Updates

As of 5/11/2021

  • The RI Department of Health (RIDOH) is now vaccinating all people 12 years of age and older. Towns are also giving the vaccine (see section below for more info). Click here for COVID-19 Vaccination Information in Your Community
  • You can make an appointment at state vaccination centers and town vaccination sites posted on the RI Department of Health website, www.vaccinateri.org.
  • You can also sign up on the websites of retail pharmacies at www.cvs.com and www.walgreens.com.
  • To receive updates as eligibility opens to new groups, click on the following link: Join the RIDOH’s Vaccine Interest Notification List. Enrolling in this list does NOT guarantee an appointment for vaccination.
  • Coastal patients may have the opportunity to receive the vaccine at locations other than Coastal Medical offices. If you are eligible for the vaccine through a non-Coastal location, we encourage you receive it through one of those other community resources.

Coastal is committed to keeping you informed with the most current news regarding the COVID-19 vaccine availability in Rhode Island and at Coastal Medical.

Please see below for an update on the COVID-19 vaccine from Coastal Medical's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ed McGookin:

Click here to listen to the vaccine update

Click here to read the vaccine update

Vaccine General Information

Frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ Sheet

What You Need To Know About COVID-19 Vaccine
https://youtu.be/fpwd8p3nXI0

Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe?
https://youtu.be/v61LnrwADWs

How mRNA Vaccines Work
https://youtu.be/SaSqbFfhsjk

What Happens After Your COVID-19 Vaccination?
https://youtu.be/TNswZa56hZw

When You've Been Fully Vaccinated - How to Protect Yourself and Others
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html

What Underlying Medical Conditions are Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccinations (age 16 and above)?
Underlying Medical Conditions

Treatment
Treatment for COVID-19 remains limited at this time. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and meet certain criteria, your provider may recommend treatment with a new investigational medicine. There are benefits and risks associated with this medication and a discussion with your provider is important. These medicines have been authorized for emergency use for the treatment of COVID-19 by the FDA.


Laboratory and Imaging Services

Coastal’s Imaging Center and Laboratory Services are still available for patients who need these services.

For LABORATORY locations & hours, click here.

For IMAGING hours & information, click here.


Behavioral Health Services

We understand that the effects of the COVID-19 crisis go beyond physical ailments. You or your family members may feel alone, scared or overwhelmed. Coastal stands ready to address your stress, fear and challenges that may increase during this difficult time. As always, you can reach out to your Coastal practice with any questions or concerns.  We are here for you.  


Community Resources

If you are struggling during the pandemic, there are many available community resources to assist you. The link below offers resources that address behavioral health, food insecurity, unemployment, substance abuse and more:

Click here to view Community Resources


Telemedicine

Telemedicine is a service that allows you to video conference with a clinician using your computer, smartphone or tablet. Learn more about telemedicine here.

Patients with a patient portal account can access and schedule telemedicine services without any delay. Don’t have a patient portal account?  Contact your Coastal practice to register today!


Have more questions?

If you have questions for your care team, we welcome you to message your clinician through the patient portall.

Now more than ever, thank you for trusting us with your healthcare.

poster of ways Coastal Medical is keeping its patients safe