Ear, Nose and Throat
Jefferson Surgical Clinic’s otolaryngologists treat issues of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT). There is a broad range of conditions that can affect your ears, nose, and throat, as well as related areas of the body, such as the head and neck.
Our surgeons and specialists will evaluate, diagnose, treat, and help you manage ENT issues so that you can breathe fresh air, smell the roses, hear laughter, voice your thoughts and sing your favorite songs with ease and comfort.
ENT Physician
COVID-19 Update: Letter from Dr. Zachmann
My dear patients,
As I am sure you are aware, due to the coronavirus COVID-19, there are a number of healthcare changes being implemented, including for Jefferson Surgical ENT. The American Academy of Otolaryngology -Head & Neck Surgery (a.k.a. ENT doctors), as well as CDC and other medical organizations are recommending strict avoidance of unnecessary contacts to lower risk of community transmission of the virus. This includes in-person clinic visits, except for urgent matters that cannot be evaluated or treated by other means. COVID-19 is easily spread by close contact and is spreading in our area at present, including from people that may not have symptoms. So, we need to do something different about our upcoming clinic visits, starting now, until COVID-19 testing improves, and masks and other protective gear are more available.
The good news is that we are now able to conduct many of your clinic visits electronically through telemedicine. Telemedicine, or telehealth, refers to audio and video medical visits, similar to how we see you in the office, but over the internet. The government is currently allowing us to use widely available programs that you can use from your end. I will be using Zoom or Skype as preferred programs, but Facebook video messenger and Apple Facetime are also approved. We will inform you of more specifics in a separate letter.
Later this week, scheduled visits for the near future will be conducted through telemedicine, primarily. Routine follow-ups can be rescheduled in a couple of months if you prefer. If it is determined through the telemedicine visit that we really need you to come into the office, that will be arranged, or discuss with us beforehand. I have great confidence that we can still provide excellent care for most problems through a telemedicine visit. These are pretty easy to do, you get to stay at home, have a cup of coffee and stay in your slippers. If you cannot get on a smartphone or computer for telemedicine, we can briefly discuss over the patient portal (preferred) or phone how to care for you through an e-visit or virtual check-in. For now, your appointment times will be approximate to when our staff will contact you to get you started on a telemedicine visit. Please review the telemedicine instructions and consent. We will all need to be flexible and patient (no pun intended, but some comedy would be good here) to get this going. This is new for us as well. As the situation has tied up our phones, please use the portal below, if you have internet access.
JSC Direct patient portal https://www.jeffersonsurgical.com/patients/jefferson-surgical-direct.html You can also schedule or reschedule an appointment here.
For allergy shot patients, I recommend holding your therapy for office injections until the current virus situation stabilizes and personal protective equipment becomes available. We will get you back up to speed soon. Self-injections and SLIT may certainly continue. Since allergy therapy is a long-term process, a short break should have no adverse clinical effect and you may continue your allergy medications regardless. We will offer shots at your judgement this week until further notice. Patients who are currently getting allergy shots in the office can be converted to sublingual immunotherapy, but you will need to set up a telemedicine visit with me to discuss how this could be done and whether it is appropriate.
All elective surgeries are recommended by AAO-HNS and CDC to be postponed for the immediate future, unless your surgeon feels that your surgery cannot be delayed. If you have an upcoming surgery, contact my secretary to set up a telemedicine visit with me as soon as you would like to make this decision and determine how to best care for you in the meantime. As soon as we are able, we will get you rescheduled. Right now, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are not enough protective supplies to go around for what is needed in the hospitals in order to run elective surgeries.
I am honored and humbled for your choosing me as your doctor, especially in these trying times. I look forward to being in touch with you soon. We will overcome by working together.
Sincerely,
Greg Zachmann, M.D.
Jefferson Surgical Clinic ENT
540-283-6023
Patient portal https://www.jeffersonsurgical.com/patients/jefferson-surgical-direct.html
Telemedicine Consent https://www.jeffersonsurgical.com/images/patient-packets/Telemedicine-Session-Consent.pdf
