Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Health Alert:
To help NYC Surgical Associates provide the safest care for all of our patients during this time please do not come to our facilities if:
- If you have fever, cough, body aches and/or shortness of breath; or
- If you (or someone close to you) have recently traveled outside the USA, have been on a cruise ship within the past two weeks, or have had close contact with someone who recently has been diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19).
Again, it is important for everyone’s safety that you DO NOT come to our facilities if you are experiencing any symptoms. Please call us for further instructions.
If you are having severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, please immediately call 911, as well as your healthcare provider, to learn how to properly proceed with emergency care.
A Message From Our Team Regarding COVID-19
With the recent outbreak of COVID-19, NYC Surgical Associates and Centers For Special Surgery collectively want our employees, visitors and patients to know exactly what we are doing to protect you during this emotional and unpredictable time.
Our facilities are credentialed and accredited by AAAHC and Medicare and follow their most stringent infectious control policies and procedures. We uphold these standards not only in our offices, but also in common areas around our buildings. Aside from the AAAHC and Medicare guidelines, additional measures we are taking to ensure safety, include:
- Limiting the number of visitors in our waiting rooms to maintain limited social contact at our facilities
- Throughout the day, continuously disinfecting all flat surfaces and objects such as doorknobs, doors and other sensitive areas patients may come in contact with.
- A zero tolerance symptom policy – our professional staff understands that maintaining their own health is essential and and have been instructed to call in sick if they experience any symptom of the virus.
Ensuring the safety of our patients is our utmost priority, and while the Coronavirus is a concern for some, we hope this information helps illustrate how closely we are monitoring the situation and taking steps to keep all visitors of our facilities as safe as possible.
We are happy to answer and discuss any questions or concerns at any time.
We look forward to continued success in treating our patients in the safest and most fulfilling ways possible.
Additional Information
Ambulatory Surgery Centers vs. Hospitals
Ambulatory surgery centers, like Centers for Special Surgery, are quite different from hospital settings. To have a procedure at a surgery center, you must meet certain health criteria that allow you to have your procedure completed outside of a hospital environment. This means the patients at our surgery centers are generally healthier than patients in a hospital, thus decreasing your chances of contracting illnesses.
What is the COVID-19?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that typically cause mild colds. Some cause illness in people, and others, such as canine and feline coronaviruses, only infect animals. Rarely, coronaviruses that infect animals have emerged to infect people and can spread between people. This is suspected to be the case with the virus that causes COVID-19.
What are COVID-19 Symptoms?
The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
How to Avoid COVID-19
Follow the CDC’s recommendation for preventative steps to keep yourself healthy. This includes but is not limited to:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a healthcare facility).
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.