In light of COVID-19, Dr. Ryan and Andrews Sports Medicine have taken the following precautions based on local and national guidelines, as well as strong consideration for the highest safety of our patients, staff, and families.
 
1.  Elective surgical cases have resumed.  If your surgery was affected during this time, we are working overtime to reschedule you as soon as possible.  When scheduled, a Covid-19 test will be required and ordered for you prior to surgery.
 
2. Our clinic has re-opened, and we are seeing patients while maintaining all necessary safety precautions. In person visits are allowed, but you will be required to wear a mask and visitors are only permitted if assistance is needed for mobility or of patients are under 18 years of age.
 
3. It is strongly recommended that if you are scheduled for an in-person visit you take your temperature before arriving (and cancel if your temperature is above 100.4 deg F)
 
4. Making Dr. Ryan’s team available via phone (205) 939 3699 or e-mail to answer your questions
 
5. Telemedicine appointments are still available if you would like to have a phone or video evaluation, during which Dr. Ryan will provide some limited treatments (recommendations, home therapy, certain limited prescriptions)
 
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.  We thank you for your understanding, your patience, and your resilience in this unknown and difficult time. 

COVID-19 Facts

∗ SARS-CoV-2 is the name of the actual corona virus, and it causes the illness known as COVID-19

∗ It is similar to SARS-CoV-1, which caused the SARS epidemic in 2003, but the actual virus is different; COVID-19 is NOT the same as influenza

∗ The most vulnerable people have one of the following: age over 70 years old, underlying medical condition (heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, among others), immune compromised, and healthcare workers/first responders

∗15% of healthcare workers can become severely ill

∗Symptoms typically occur 2-14 days after exposure and include: Fever (>100.4 °F), cough, and shortness of breath

∗Most symptoms are very mild, which allows most infected people to walk around, and many may not know they have it.  This is why social distancing is very important.  Please take this seriously, and continue to stay a minimum of 6 feet away from others

∗The virus can live on surfaces like copper, cardboard, and stainless steel for 1-3 days, so cleaning surfaces, mail, packages, and grocery items with sanitizing solution is recommended

∗Alabama currently has 14,260 verified cases (as of 5/24) and 551 deaths; the trend had plateaued until 5/17 when cases and deaths per day increased slightly, likely in relation to reduced state restrictions

∗ The biggest concern is not that every infected person needs medical care; the biggest concern is those that do, typically need a higher level of care, including an ICU or a ventilator
 
∗ There are a limited number of ICU beds and ventilators, and when these resources run out, managing patients becomes incredibly difficult
 
∗Additionally, personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to protect physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers is in currently relatively short supply

What should you do?

What to do if you are sick?

1. Abide by social distancing recommendations
 
2. Limit exposure to high-volume public places, unless absolutely necessary 
 
3. Wash your hands frequently
 
4. Wash and sanitize commonly touched items (cars, door handles, refrigerator doors, countertops, cell phones, bathrooms etc.) 
1. Stay home – the vast majority of patients have a mild form, and can recover at home; staying away from others reduces the risk of transmission
 
2. Contact your doctor – call if any of your symptoms start to get worse, especially shortness of breath
 
3. Avoid public transportation or highly trafficked areas
 
4. Wear a face mask – this reduces the chance you will spread the disease, which is spread via respiratory droplets originating from your mouth and nose
 
5. Wash your hands frequently, for 20 seconds
 
6. Clean commonly touched surfaces (door handles, counter tops, refrigerator handles etc) with sanitizing solution
 
7. **Go to the emergency room if you develop any of the following: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in your chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, bluish lips or face

Additional Information & Resources

 
 
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