The Boothbay Region Health Center staff is pleased to report that thanks to the generosity of local businesses and community members, we now have enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all our front line staff and medical providers to last us almost a month. Anyone in our region who needs non-COVID- 19 primary healthcare should feel confident making an appointment or calling for a same day walk in (or tele) appointment. Don't let a wound, infection, or a chronic condition get out of hand. Ticks are also rampant now. If you get a tick bite, please give us a call to get treated and tested (tele or in-office). We are currently open Monday through Saturday. And, we still make house calls.

What we are doing to keep you safe:

–All staff are donning clean scrubs once they arrive every morning and doffing them prior to leaving.

–All staff get their temperatures checked every morning and every evening.

–All staff are wearing masks all day.

–We currently have enough masks for staff to last us 25 more days.

–We are still offering cloth masks to the public as we have them available. The need has increased in the community now that the CDC has changed their recommendations. (So please keep sewing and bringing cloth masks to us!)

–We have done 119 tele-visits and 15 home visits since the middle of March. We are still seeing patients in the office for things that cannot be done via televisit, and cannot wait.

–We have a Mental Health Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and a Licensed Social Worker doing televisits for those suffering mental health issues due to the pandemic.

Types of Care. In the past three weeks, we have treated a number of patients including urinary tract infections, allergies, cold-like-symptoms, tick bites, suture removals, skin infections, and much more.

Face Masks. In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control's newest guidelines https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html, we highly recommend that you wear a cloth face mask when you must leave your house and are likely to run into other people. There are a number of local volunteers who are working hard to provide us with cloth masks that we sort, launder and distribute for free to anyone in need of a washable cloth face mask. Please keep the supply coming! We have given out over 100 masks to-date. But if everyone in our Region wore a face mask, we would need more than 25,000! You can drop them off at the Health Center and/or come by to pick one up for yourself and your family members.

Accepting New Patients. You don't need to be an established patient with us to use our local services. We welcome new patients and can fill in while your regular PCP is unavailable. We take most health insurance and have very affordable fees for anyone without health insurance.

TeleHealth Visits. Many patients have opted to stay in their homes and to "see" one of our providers online using video capabilities on their computers or smartphones. Call for an appointment and we'll email you the link to use at the time of your appointment.

Office Visits. We're still doing necessary office visits and lab tests in our office in the Meadow Mall. Our hours are 8:30 to 4:30 Monday thru Friday and 10 to 4 on Saturdays. We will ask you a few screening questions before you come into the office. Please call ahead (even if you're calling from the parking lot). Health Care is an essential service. Please don't neglect your own health.

What can you do to help?

–Stay at home and follow the CDC’s social distancing requirements as much as you can. We have volunteers readily available to run errands; such as grocery shopping and prescription pickups for those in need.

–Donate whether that be medical supplies (gloves, disposable masks, cloth masks) or monetary donations. We really need your support right now!

–Show appreciation to the local essential workers (grocery store, health care, gas stations, delivery personnel)