During this challenging time, our goal remains to provide excellent care to our patients in a safe manner that avoids spread of the deadly corona virus.

Here are some of the steps we are taking:

• We have reduced in-office staff to the fewest that allows us to still handle patients’ phone calls.

• Medicines are still being refilled promptly and questions are being answered by Dr. Lateef and PA Rita.

• Persons who can be seen via telemedicine are being evaluated in this way and I am happy to report our telemedicine system is working very well (ZOOM). Patients are surprised by how smooth and engaging the system is. Most appreciate the convenience of face to face evaluations without waiting rooms and from the safety of their homes. All that is needed is a laptop or smart phone with internet access (and camera/microphone).

• Patients who must come to the physical office include those receiving treatments (allergy or other shots) or requiring special testing. To avoid spread of the virus, our new schedule allows ONLY one patient in the office at a time, keeping them in special areas with minimal physical contact.

• Patients are kept in the office for the shortest possible time (under 25 minutes in most cases).

• Patient care areas have been emptied so they can be easily and quickly disinfected before and after each patient is seen.

• Patients on shots should not be worried about a temporary interruption of their protocols, especially if the interruption between shots is less than 3 weeks. Our protocol allows for a significant time lapse between shots before we must adjust dosing (or consider restarting from scratch). Patients on buildup shots have between 3-6 weeks and those on maintenance have between 6-12 weeks before we begin losing progress (even this can vary by patient given many factors involved). Our nursing staff is monitoring these situations closely and will be in touch with shot patients to do our best to avoid losing hard earned progress.

• We are NOW seeing NEW PATIENT CONSULTATIONS in our office using a specially designed space that maintains a safe distance between patient and provider but still allows for direct conversation and a normal evaluation. Examination and testing are completed under FULL COVID PRECAUTIONS at this same appointment. Only one new patient is seen in the office at a time (if the patient is a minor, then ONE guardian may also be present). This system has been in use for several weeks and is working very well. Evaluations are still thorough while also minimizing risk of viral transmission. Testing results and detailed treatment directions are reviewed during the visit and also emailed to the patient.

• CALL US NOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE TO SCHEDULE A FOLLOW-UP OR NEW PATIENT EVALUATION FOR YOUR HYPERSENSITIVITY COMPLAINTS. Let us help you SAFELY find relief for your symptoms. Speak to our staff about our convenient and SAFE telemedicine evaluations.