Hamilton Cardiology Associates COVID-19 Office Policies and Protocols - Hamilton Cardiology Associates - New Jersey's Leading Board Certified Cardiologists

Updated 3/5/21

In our practice, the safety and well-being of the Hamilton Cardiology Family (our patients, their families, and our staff) is our highest priority and most important responsibility. We created this COVID-19 page to provide you with the most up to date information regarding the pandemic and vaccination availability.

Please visit this site often, and read the whole page, as the information changes rapidly!

The most frequent updates are related to the number of vaccination locations in New Jersey. This site is updated at least weekly:

https://newjersey.github.io/vaccine-locations/NJ-COVID-19-Vaccine-Locations.pdf

On March 1, Governor Murphy announced expansion of eligibility for New Jersey’s COVIS-19 Vaccination Program, effective March 15, 2021:

https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/20210301a.shtml

New Jersey has provided an updated web page dedicated to vaccination information including how to get help with registration. Click on the link below for more information:

https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/vaccine

Office Safety

We continue to maintain social distancing in our offices and enforce temperature checks and mask use for all HCA employees, patients and visitors to the office. In addition, we continue to sanitize our exam rooms after each patient visit and deep clean and fumigate our offices each evening.

As of February 6, 2021, the majority of HCA physicians and employees have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine through access from the local hospitals and the Hamilton Township Health Department. This not only helps ensure the safety of our physicians and staff, but the patients with whom we interact.

Recommendation Regarding the Vaccine for Our Patients

Hamilton Cardiology Associates supports the use of the COVID-19 vaccine for our patients who meet the CDC criteria for vaccination.

The exceptions are that those patients with any of the following: severe allergic reactions to other medications, HIV, autoimmune conditions, or who take immune system suppressing or modulating medications. These patients should ask their PCP before getting the vaccine.

Those patients who are breastfeeding, pregnant, or trying to become pregnant should also ask their obstetrician before getting the vaccine.

Please visit the CDC website for more information about the clinical considerations:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html

How do I Find Out If I Qualify for the Vaccine?

On Tuesday, January 12, 2021, the CDC revised their guidelines and recommended that states expand access to COVID-19 vaccines to everyone aged 65 and older, as well as to any adult with an underlying health condition that might raise the risk for complications of COVID-19. Click on the link below to learn more about conditions that qualify:

New Jersey quickly adapted those recommendations and expanded vaccination eligibility to include the Phase 1A and 1B Priority Groups. Click on the link below to see if you are eligible

https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/slowing-the-spread/who-is-eligible-for-vaccination-in-new-jersey-who-is-included-in-the-vaccination-phases

How to Register for the Vaccine in New Jersey

If you are eligible to receive the vaccine at this time, there are many different avenues by which to register, most of which require online pre-registration. You may register at more than one site; registering at the NJ Health site does not automatically register you at the different individual locations in your county, for example. Visit the NJ Health website to pre-register for the vaccine, link and screen shot listed below for your convenience. The pre-registration will include questions about your medical conditions. After you complete the pre-registration, you will receive a confirmation email with further information, including your status, based on your information provided.

https://covidvaccine.nj.gov/?fbclid=IwAR0S9ayS7v-ZprYgUx0cYsDr_r199PcBKJYJGZ6zOM-FNofYruLmiyXww-k

In addition to this site, there are many locations throughout the state of New Jersey that are offering vaccination appointments for eligible residents. Click on the below link to access the list of all of the different locations in New Jersey:

https://newjersey.github.io/vaccine-locations/NJ-COVID-19-Vaccine-Locations.pdf

As of 2/12/21, Walgreens , Rte Aid, and CVS have begun scheduling appointments at select locations in NJ, but appointments fill very quickly. Recent media reports that pharmacies may start to keep a waiting list for extra doses. Contact a participating pharmacy to see if they are keeping a waiting list.

Click on the links below to register:

CVS

https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/get-vaccinated?fbclid=IwAR2gXH0tXu1bNFrwBSoBrj8FcRuLkPMN8FigaoIn2TvZ34N0zBElYGsKYp8

Walgreens

https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp

Rite Aid

https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/apt-scheduler?fbclid=IwAR0G3R_7Ys8UpVaXXmStPGMNtIGz05XVYCxaXftFON7vFIhrK9TLau6UVns

We encourage you to visit these links often; availability will increase over time, sometimes within minutes! Be persistent. We also encourage you to stay in touch with your local townships; they may also be a source of information for local vaccination opportunities.

Office Policies and Protocols

We are looking forward to seeing you in the office for your upcoming appointment. Hamilton Cardiology Associates is taking every precaution to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our patients and staff during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

With that in mind, we have implemented an additional screening protocol for all patients and visitors prior to entering the facility. If you answer “yes” to any of the below screening questions, you may be asked to reschedule your appointment:

Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 21 days, or do you have a pending antigen test?
Have you been exposed to any person with the COVID-19 virus, or person under investigation (PUI) within the past 2 weeks?
Have you been admitted for more than a two night stay to a hospital or a subacute/acute rehab facility within the past 14 days, and have not received the complete series of a COVID-19 vaccine)?
Have you had a fever (> 100.4), cough, altered sense of smell or taste within the past 2 weeks?
Is your sense of smell or taste less than what is usually is?

In addition to our screening protocol, we have taken the following additional measures:

You will be asked to wait in your vehicle rather than the waiting room
The check in and checkout process will occur remotely
All patients are now required to wear a protective mask prior to entering the building. Cloth face masks are permitted
We are restricting all visitation except in cases in which the visitor is needed to provide direct assistance to the patient during the visit (e.g. translation, medical history). All patients’ visitors are required to wear a protective mask at all times while in the office.
The waiting room area has been reconfigured to maintain a 6 foot social distance, and will be restricted to those patients who require transportation
All schedules have been reduced to allow social distancing
All staff, providers, vendors and approved visitors will receive a health screening (including a temperature check and a series of questions) prior to entering the office
All staff and providers are now required to wear a protective mask at all times, except when eating or drinking.
Hand sanitizer will be available in all patient care areas
All clinical care providers are required to follow strict hand washing protocols and to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as they care for patients.
We have created signs that encourage social distancing.
Frequently touched surfaces will be cleaned regularly using EPA-registered disinfectants—counters, exam tables, seating.