March 27, 2020 – On Monday, March 30, at 8 a.m., Southeast Georgia
Health System will begin screening patients for coronavirus symptoms through
a free COVID-19 Screening Hotline,
912-466-7222. The Hotline will be staffed with Health System nurses and advanced practice
providers and will offer immediate access to
Southeast Georgia Physician Associates health care providers, if needed. Patients who meet the criteria for an
in-person
coronavirus screening will be given an appointment and instructions for a virtual
or in-person physical exam and, if warranted, instructions for testing.
Initially, the Hotline will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday. There are plans to expand hours and add weekend coverage
as demand requires.
The primary symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath.
More advanced symptoms requiring immediate medical attention include difficulty
breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, sudden confusion
or inability to arouse and bluish lips or face. Elderly people and anyone
with severe heart or lung disease or diabetes appear to have a higher
risk for developing more serious complications from coronavirus.
“Health experts around the world know that containment is our best
course of action to curb the spread of coronavirus. For this reason, Southeast
Georgia Health System rapidly mobilized resources to roll out a screening
hotline that will address public concerns and help local medical providers
identify who needs testing, who can quarantine at home and who needs immediate
medical attention. The hotline is just one of many efforts the Health
System is taking to protect our community,” says
Daniel L. Miller, M.D., board-certified
emergency medicine physician at
Glynn Immediate Care Center and member of the Southeast Georgia Health System Brunswick Campus medical staff.
To make the hotline available to those who truly need it, Health System
officials are urging the public to call only if they or a loved one experience
symptoms associated with the coronavirus.
If you experience COVID-19 symptoms, call the Screening Hotline, 912-466-7222,
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For COVID-19 updates, visit
sghs.org or
cdc.gov.