Dear Patients,

We are reaching out to let you know we remain open and here for you and the precautions we are taking to ensure the safety of everyone:

Daily, all surfaces in the office are first cleaned and then sterilized as a second step using a hospital-grade sterilizer.   This includes all chairs and tables in the patient waiting room and check-in desk area, exam room countertops and beds, bathrooms as well as all door handles.

If you or your family members have been exposed to or are experiencing symptoms consistent with the flu or a virus, we ask that you please stay at home as a courtesy to our team and other patients. We are always happy to reschedule your appointment for a later date.

A special note to our pregnant patients:

Pregnant women are generally young and healthy, and not at high risk from a viral infection of the lungs, like corona virus or influenza.  In the third trimester, when the uterus is larger, it is hard for the mother to take a deep breath.  A respiratory infection at that stage is more dangerous, because clearing secretions and effectively coughing is harder.  That is why we recommend influenza vaccines for the mothers who are in second and third trimester during flu season.  Corona virus infections do not have bad effects on babies in the womb after the first trimester, and not usually in the first trimester.  The important thing about the new corona virus is that it seems to be more likely to cause fatal pneumonia than even influenza, which causes 10,000-60,000 deaths each year in the USA (I point out this number of annual deaths not to alarm you, but to put this new threat into perspective.)  Because this strain of corona virus is new, we don’t know yet just how dangerous it is; preliminary data show that it is more deadly than influenza.  It is prudent to do what we can to limit its spread; that is why Governor DeWine has closed the schools and banned large gatherings of people.  We will continue to monitor the Centers for Disease Control website for updates.  Here are two FAQ from the CDC website:

Q: Are pregnant women more susceptible to infection, or at increased risk for severe illness, morbidity, or mortality with COVID-19, compared with the general public?

A: We do not have information from published scientific reports about susceptibility of pregnant women to COVID-19. Pregnant women experience immunologic and physiologic changes which might make them more susceptible to viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Pregnant women also might be at risk for severe illness, morbidity, or mortality compared to the general population as observed in cases of other related coronavirus infections [including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)] and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza, during pregnancy.

Pregnant women should engage in usual preventive actions to avoid infection like washing hands often and avoiding people who are sick.

Q: Are pregnant women with COVID-19 at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes?

A: We do not have information on adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19. Pregnancy loss, including miscarriage and stillbirth, has been observed in cases of infection with other related coronaviruses [SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV] during pregnancy. High fevers during the first trimester of pregnancy can increase the risk of certain birth defects.

Attention patients over 60 or anyone with lung disease, heart failure, active cancers and diabetes: If you have a routine annual exam scheduled in March, please contact our office to decide if the appointment is essential or can be rescheduled.   If you need refills of your medication, we will find a way to assist you.

Stay healthy!

Dr. Alan Murnane and Staff