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COVID 19 EMERGECY AND DERMATOLOGY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Updated 7.1.2020

What Limitations are there regarding Procedures and Treatments during COVID-19

Emergency?

In accordance with State of Texas Health Emergency mandates updated on April 22 by

Governor Abbott, we can now see patients in office appointments for urgent and

medically essential treatments and procedures.

Treatment of non-essential or non-urgent conditions can also resume now (as of May 4)

until further notice. You may schedule your “in-person” appointment with our providers

during our full day office hours.

Patients may choose to be seen with a Telelvisit if they would like to maintain the

highest level of self-protection. Televisits can be used for new or existing patients.

Is Arlington Center for Dermatology (ACD) open for business during COVID-19?

We are open during regular business hours to answer any questions you may have on

the patient portal or over the phone. You may also schedule any in person or Televisits

from 7am to 4pm Monday through Thursday and 7am-12pm on Fridays.

All patients and staff must wear a mask in order to be seen by a provider or have any

interaction with any ACD staff. You will be asked to leave if you refuse to wear a mask.

Mask requirements are required for all Tarrant County places of business and public

service.

I think I might have the coronavirus or flu; can I have a procedure in your office during

COVID-19?

Before you come into our office, we will ask you affirm that:

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1) You nor anyone in your household has NOT had fever (above 100.4), flu-like

symptoms, muscle ache or body, ache, congestion or runny nose, loss of taste, loss of

smell, cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, diarrhea, fatigue, and sore

throat or pink eye (conjunctivitis).

3) You nor anyone in your household has NOT tested positive for COVID19 or had

contact with confirmed case of coronavirus patient in last 14 Days.

If you answer “Yes” to any of these Covid19 requirements, you will need to

reschedule your in-office procedure and/or schedule a Televisit.

Can I Have a Surgery or Biopsy on my diagnosed conditions during the COVID-19 Emergency?

As of April 22, 2020, the Texas Medical Board has further clarified and approved certain

procedures to be performed in Essential Medical Offices during this Health Emergency.

There may be treatments and procedures that can now be performed in our outpatient

office if your condition meets one or more of the following criteria:

A procedure is determined to be immediately medically necessary and Essential to

correct a serious medical condition to preserve life. Without an immediate

procedure, a patient would be at risk for serious adverse medical consequences or

death.

A procedure is determined to be immediately medically necessary and Emergent to

preserve the life of a patient because of a life-threatening condition which cannot be

safely delayed for any significant period of time.

A procedure is determined to be immediately medically necessary when the

procedure is of an Urgent nature. An urgent condition includes lesions of skin cancer

or yet-to-be-biopsied lesions that are growing, bleeding, hurting, or changing

(mole). Lesions of this type pose a risk of patient deterioration or disease progression

that is likely to occur if the procedure or surgery is not undertaken immediately

and/or the surgery or procedure is significantly delayed. The resulting decline in the

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patient’s health could make the patient more vulnerable to COVID-19 and other

issues.

These procedures may now include cryotherapy (freezing) and biopsies since these

procedures do not require the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that the

hospital may require.

A provider from ACD will ultimately determine the urgency of a procedure, but

generally this should include most non-cosmetic procedures. Some non urgent and

cosmetic procedures may be performed as well. Your provider can discuss this with

in person or during a televisit.

What if I am a high-risk patient and need an Urgent procedure during COVID-19?

If you have an underlying medical condition, particularly if not well controlled, including

chronic lung disease, moderate-to-severe asthma, serious heart condition,

immunocompromised, smoker, obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher),

diabetes, undergoing dialysis, or liver disease, your increased risk of severe disease with

COVID-19 may outweigh the need for a dermatological procedure. You can schedule a

Televisit for your own safety. Providers can review your condition, prescribe

medications and give a wide array of medical options during a Televisit.

Can I be treated for a bad rash or itch with a visit in the office with the provider?

You can schedule an in person visit for a bad rash or itch. You can also schedule a

Televisit to discuss the severity of your rash and to determine if you qualify for

narrowband UVB treatment or a shot as an Urgent case.

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I need to have my stitches/sutures removed. Can I come into Arlington Center for

Dermatology to have them removed during COVID-19?

We can remove sutures in office if you do not have anyone at home to remove them.

We do not want you to have to go to an ER or an urgent care center for suture removal.

Please keep your suture removal appointment in those cases.

I had patch testing scheduled to help determine which items are causing my rash. This is lab

testing in your office instead of Quest or Labcorp and not a procedure requiring gloves and

PPE. Can this be performed?

Yes. You may have patch testing done if all topical treatments for rash and itch have

failed and if your itching and discomfort from a rash. To prevent you for exposure and

use of critical hospitals resources, you may be approved for patch testing in our office.

Please call to schedule an in office appointment or a Televisit to discuss the severity of

your rash and to determine if you qualify for patch testing.

I have an appointment in your office that meets the criteria during COVID-19. Do I need to do

anything special when I come in?

Before you come into our office, we will ask you affirm that:

1) You nor anyone in your household has NOT had fever (above 100.4), flu-like

symptoms, muscle ache or body, ache, congestion or runny nose, loss of taste, loss of

smell, cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, diarrhea, fatigue, and sore

throat or pink eye (conjunctivitis).

2) You nor anyone in your household has NOT tested postitive for COVID19 or had

contact with confirmed case of coronavirus patient in last 14 Days.

If you answer “Yes” to any of these Covid19 requirements, you will need to

reschedule your in-office procedure and/or schedule a Televisit.

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We will require that you wear a mask or scarf to cover your mouth and nose during your

visit. We will not supply a mask for you. You must bring one with you. You may be asked

to reschedule your appointment if you arrive without a mask or scarf..

What if I am happy to be seen at home through a TELEVISIT. What do I do?

Televisits are a great way for you to see the dermatologist while remaining safe at

home. You will need a smartphone and the HEALOW APP. The HEALOW APP can be

found on the Apple Store or the Google Play Store or you can download from

www.healow.com. Instructions for Televisits can be found at our website at

www.acderm.com. To use the HEALOW APP for a Televisit, you will need to have an

account in our Patient Portal.

See instructions for Televisits here.

Should I wear a mask if I do have a visit in the Arlington Center for Dermatology Office?

If you do come into the office for an appointment, you are required by state mandates

to wear your own face mask, bandana, or scarf over your mouth and nose. We will not

be able to supply you a face mask. You may be required to reschedule your appointment

if you arrive without a mask or scarf to cover your mouth and nose.

Can I do UVB Light Treatment, PDT or Excimer Treatments in the Arlington Center for

Dermatology Office during the COVID 19 Emergency?

Yes. You can now receive such treatments in our office.

What if I do not want to participate in a TELEVISIT?

You may now schedule in-office appointments. Televisits will not be required but will

still be available should you want to be seen in that manner.

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I cannot figure out how to use the HEALOW app. What should I do?

During COVID-19, you have other options. If you have an iPhone, then you can use

FaceTime. If you have any other kind of smartphone, then you can already have Google

Duo, although it may be not active yet. If you do not have a smartphone but do have a

laptop or computer, then please email acderm@acderm.com, message us in the Patient

Portal, or call our office at 817-795-7546 for instructions on how to use Zoom.

What is the best way to communicate with Arlington Center for Dermatology during the

COVID 19 Emergency?

We apologize in advance that we may be delayed in returning your messages. I do have

a wonderful team of staff members who have been working hard to move your

appointments around to accommodate COVID-19, “current” Texas Essential Services

and Activities Protocols and CDC guidelines (which seems to be a moving target and

daily changing). If you need to contact us with questions or concerns or to schedule an

earlier or later visit, you have several convenient options as my dedicated team

members and I work together to serve you:

1) Patient Portal (fastest response back from the office)

a. Encrypted, HIPAA protected

b. Allows you to specify which time slots are convenient for you

c. Allows you to detail out your question or concern for Dr. Moore or the

provider

2) Email acderm@acderm.com (only if you are not concerned about your privacy)

a. Non-encrypted so not HIPAA protected

b. Please realize that we cannot ensure your privacy in cyberspace

c. Allows you to specify which time slots are convenient for you

d. Allows you to detail out your question or concern for Dr. Moore or the

provider

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3) Leave a voice mail (may be slight delay in returning your message due to

voicemail volume) at 817-795-7546 with your message.

a. We can only speak to those that you have granted permission or leave

voice mails based on the HIPAA sheet that you have previously filled out

and signed so may play phone tag.

b. You may initially receive a call from a non-medical staff member.

I am a New Patient. Can I be seen in the office during COVID-19?

Yes. You can schedule an in-office New Patient Appointment. You can also be seen by

Dr. Moore during a Televisit for treatment during COVID-19.

I have a Study appointment for a clinical trial scheduled. Do I keep my appointment?

Yes, keep your appointment as scheduled, in the morning or in the afternoon. These

appointments do no use any of the PPE equipment that we are conserving for hospitals

for COVID-19, but only use equipment supplied by the sponsor of the clinical trial.

Updated 5/8/2020