We realize there are a lot of questions swirling around about COVID-19. We asked Dr. Pete Olsen, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Fairview Range, to answer people’s most pressing questions and how our healthcare community is combatting the current pandemic.
What are the most common symptoms of COVID-19?
“Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, but up to 10 percent of patients can present with gastrointestinal symptoms, so nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Some patients may even have a loss of smell.”
What should I do if I have these symptoms?
“If your symptoms aren’t severe, you can treat yourself at home using Tylenol, Ibuprofen, staying well hydrated with things like Gatorade, Powerade, and soup broth. But if your symptoms become more severe, use one of our virtual resources: our triage line, a video or telephone visit, or OnCare, so we can direct you to the next point of care.”
For triage line, call 218-362-6682.
For video and telephone visits, call218-362-6937 to schedule an appointment.
For OnCare, visit OnCare.org.
Who is getting tested?
“This [testing] is a limited resource and so we follow the CDC guidelines on who to test, including the most critically ill patients and the healthcare providers who care for them.”
How do I protect myself from COVID-19?
“The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to isolate. The stay in place order helps prevent person-to-person contact, which is how COVID-19 spreads. If you’re in your home and you start to develop signs or symptoms of COVID such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, do the best you can to self isolate in the home to prevent from spreading disease to anyone else.”
I’m young and healthy, why do I need to stay home?
“There’s been a lot of coverage regarding how COVID-19 affects different populations/different ages of people. But the reality is that even if you catch COVID-19 and have a much more mild case, you still have the potential to transmit it to someone who could have a much more severe case of COVID-19. It’s still important to wash your hands and self isolate to prevent the spread of the virus.”
What can I do to help?
“If you can, please stay home during this time. This will slow the spread of the virus and can help save lives. Thank you for helping us in this fight. By staying apart we keep the community together.”
If you’re looking for ways to donate, here’s how.
How will my everyday care change due to COVID-19?
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, your healthcare team has been preparing tirelessly to make sure we can provide you with the same high quality, multi-speciality care that you’ve come to expect in our community. Your care may look different during this time, taking advantage of many available virtual platforms.”
Fairview Range offers four ways you can connect with us without leaving home. For more on virtual care, read our article Fairview Range Offers 4 Virtual Visit Options.
How is Fairview Range keeping its care up-to-date?
“We’re coordinating with larger systems, including the CDC, the Minnesota Department of Health, and M Health Fairview to assure we have the most up-to-date protocols on testing and caring for patients with COVID-19.”
We’re all in this together. For the latest news from Fairview Range, follow us on Facebook or visit our blog. For the latest on COVID-19, please visit the Center for Disease Control or Minnesota Department of Health websites.