Updated 03/12/2022 8:00am. This pandemic has spanned nearly two years, and so this webpage is streamlined to include new topics only. Our office is open for the full range of appointment needs.
Be aware of our important policies:
- Patients may bring ONE ADULT companion to every appointment.
- Everyone must wear a mask while in our office — no exceptions. Wear your mask over your nose AND mouth. This is current North Carolina law for healthcare facilities. Although we will try to maintain safe physical distancing practices, you will unavoidably encounter staff members and other patients. Let us all protect one another!
- We cannot see patients with symptoms of Covid, or test patients for Covid, due to our OSHA compliance categorization. Your primary care provider may do testing in their office. Also, the North Carolina COVID-19 information hotline is 866-462-3821, and is for questions about the virus and for testing locations. In general, if you are experiencing fever, cough or shortness of breath, we request you call the office to postpone your appointment.
Appointment Rescheduling
With the presence of the Omicron variant, you may need to postpone your appointment if you have been infected or exposed. Here are detailed explanations from the CDC, which we have used as a framework for appointment scheduling. Arbor ObGyn will make the final determination for all appointments.
COVID DISEASED PATIENTS. Isolation is used to separate people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from those without COVID-19.
- People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. You can end isolation after 5 full days since your symptoms began (or a positive test if asymptomatic), if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved. You should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days.
- Out of an abundance of caution and to streamline our appointing algorithm: if your appointment is not time sensitive, Arbor ObGyn will reschedule your appointment for at-least 10 days from symptom onset or positive Covid test.
- Pregnant women with Covid-19 should review our Obstetric Specific Webpage.
EXPOSED PATIENTS. Quarantine is a strategy used to prevent transmission of COVID-19 by keeping people who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 apart from others. (Close contact is someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example).
- You do not need to quarantine if you have been immunized and boosted. You should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of your last close contact with someone with COVID-19 (the date of last close contact is considered day zero). Get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- We can see you for an appointment if your 5+ day test is negative.
- If you have already had Covid within the past 90 days, you do not need to quarantine. However, you should wear a mask around others for 10 days.
- We can see you for your regularly scheduled appointment.
- All others should quarantine: Stay home and away from other people for at least 5 days (day 0 through day 5) after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. The date of your exposure is considered day zero. Wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home, if possible. If you do not develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. If you test negative, you can leave your home, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home and in public until 10 days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- Out of an abundance of caution and to streamline our appointing algorithm: if your appointment is not time sensitive, Arbor ObGyn will reschedule your appointment for at-least 10 days from your exposure date.
Arbor ObGyn
- Contact our office by phone before your appointment if you are feeling ill, have a fever, or have been exposed to a viral illness. Be assured that if any member of our Arbor ObGyn team is ill, they will not be in our office caring for you!
- Our waiting rooms have been modified to allow for maximal physical distancing. Please be respectful of others.
- Patients may bring ONE ADULT COMPANION with them to their appointment. This is to reduce the likelihood of unrecognized coronavirus carriers from infecting our staff and other patients, as well as to allow for more physical distancing.
- In lieu of face-to-face visits, TeleHealth appointments are available for established Arbor patients that still would like to consult about a medical matter with their provider by phone. See the TeleHealth tab at the top of our homepage for additional information. You can select an appointment time, and our staff and providers will contact you by phone at that time. Your health insurance and co-pays will be billed for that appointment at the customary contracted TeleMedicine rate.
UNC REX Healthcare (Hospital)
- Rex Hospital falls under the guidance of UNC Health.
- As of 03/23/2022, Rex no longer does asymptomatic Covid testing for pre-surgery, pre-labor, or labor pateints.
- Gynecologic Surgery patients (also see the Preparing for Surgery Section of the Arbor ObGyn Surgery webpage): Rex has the ability to accommodate all surgeries at this time. There is a screening process to ensure that the patient is healthy enough for surgery during the pandemic.
- Pregnant Patients (also see the COVID-19 Section of the Arbor ObGyn Obstetrics webpage): The Women’s Center is open and fully staffed for deliveries and postpartum care, and has coronavirus mitigation measures in place. Your support person is not tested. Keep in mind that guest restrictions are evolving. All patients and support persons will be issued a mask and are required to wear a mask when outside of their room or when anyone else enters their room.
- 03/10/22: The UNC Rex Women’s Center will allow “two visitors, ages 12 or above”. In addition, a doula is allowed.
- You can view UNC Rex Women’s Center up-to-date visitor policy on their website.