COVID19 Update
Tennessee is not orange and white but maroon every day on the national Covid map, leading in cases per capita and extremely high risk. Grundy County has only vaccinated 23% of the population. BSMC continues to see patients and refill medications mindful of one thing: safety. Safety for patients, family, and staff from the deadly virus.
Patients are asked to call from home or their cars and provide their reason for visiting the clinic. Are they vaccinated, when? Have they ever been tested positive, when? Can they show proof of a negative test in the past 72 hours? Have they been exposed to anyone with Covid, when? They too will need proof of a negative test.
Symptoms of Covid are then assessed:
- Fever or chills (past 72 hours)
- Cough
- Short of breath or trouble breathing
- Body Aches
- Fatigue
- Headache
- New loss of taste of smell
- Sore throat
- Nasal congestion
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
If If symptoms are present, they will be asked to get a Covid test and return with proof of a negative test.
All this before being seen in the clinic. Yes, it is a lot of trouble. Wouldn’t it be easier just to get the vaccine? Opinions are strong and staff say that “no one is on the fence”. In other words, minds are made up and so it goes.
Only 2 patients are allowed in the clinic at one time. No one can wait inside. Masks must be worn on the porch and clinic at all times.
Otherwise, it’s business as usual in what may be our new normal. Our providers assess and treat patients with chronic and acute disease. Lab work is drawn, results are reviewed, treatment is planned, and evaluated for effectiveness. Patients are educated on their disease and medications.
Another significant change in clinic operation is medication refills. Patients are now asked to call or drop off refills and return in one to two days. No longer will providers be asked to interrupt their appointments to authorize refills while the patient waits.
Flu shots are available at the clinic. We hope our patients will get this tried and true prevention against illness and avoid more missed work and school.
Things in our world have changed. Misinformation and mistrust are common. The staff and volunteers of our clinic are committed to giving the best care and information to our patients. BSMC is truly unique in that appointments are not charged or timed. Extra time is taken to make a difference. We hope that we will continue to your build your trust. Let us work with you to be safe and healthy.
Dash to the Door 5K Family Run/Walk
We exceeded $50,000 our goal again this year. Early on, the committee had to wrestle with mask, no mask, virtual, in person, crowds or social distancing, but July 3rd arrived on a beautiful, cool, sunny summer, post-Covid day. The in-person participants ballooned to 99 people and an undetermined number of dogs. Virtual participants walked in Sewanee, TN, Jacksonville, FL, St, Mary’s, GA, and Vancouver, BC. We had a wonderful number of sponsors at all levels. Please support these businesses when possible.
Dear Friends of the Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic,
The BSMC continues to adjust protocols based on the most current information regarding COVID-19. We are now seeing patients on a limited basis both in person and using telemedicine. Please call the Clinic (931-692-2229) before you come. If you are asked to come to the Clinic, wait in your car for a member of the staff to come to you.
We are open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8AM-4PM
Stay safe,
Alison
Thank you churches, schools, community members, places of business, government offices and employees, and every person who has been practicing social distancing and safe hygiene to slow the spread of COVID-19. It takes all of us WORKING TOGETHER and STAYING APART to keep our community healthy.
Please continue making a difference in slowing COVID-19 by:
- Keeping your distance: limit trips outside the home.
- Avoiding public places and gatherings: minimize the number of people around you.
- Maintaining at least a six-foot distance from other people: stay out of the “sneeze” zone and respect everyone’s personal space.
- Wearing masks (these can be home made cloth coverings as recommended by the CDC), if you are around other people: cover your mouth and nose to protect you and anyone near you.
- Washing you hands with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds OR using hand sanitizer: send those germs down the drain.
- Avoiding touching your face: keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
- Disinfecting surfaces: clean it if you touch it.
- Being kind to one another: show your care and concern by staying safe.
Thank you for your continued support,
Alison Gower, Executive Director
Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic
19592 SR 56 Beersheba Springs, TN 37305
