COVID-19 Q & A

Q: Can the Family Medicine Center (FMC) test for novel coronavirus (COVID-19)?

A: For patients who meet testing guidelines, the FMC can collect samples that are sent to the appropriate state or commercial lab facilities. The test for COVID-19 can only be performed through state or select commercial labs.

Q: Can anyone be tested for COVID-19?

A: Due to the limited availability of testing by state and commercial labs, the FMC is currently following guidelines set by the Indiana State Health Department (ISDH) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines to determine the most appropriate patients to collect samples for testing. Once identified, those patients are referred to a local emergency room for testing.

Q: If I go to the emergency room, or have a doctor’s note, can I be tested?

A: We are strongly encouraging our patients to call our office at 260-423-2675 to be screened BEFORE going to the emergency room. If you go to the emergency room and DO NOT meet criteria for testing, you will not be tested.

If you do not qualify for testing, our physicians are able to help you manage your symptoms and follow guidelines to minimize exposure to others.

Q: Should everyone who has COVID-19 symptoms be seen by a doctor?

A: The majority of people with COVID-19 have minor symptoms and do not require an office visit or testing. People with minor symptoms are encouraged to stay home rather than seek testing or medical care. If you have symptoms or concerns specific to COVID-19 you may:

1. Call our office for a free phone screening at 260-423-2675

Please be aware that the phone screening may determine that you need to see a provider for care and management of your symptoms. However, seeing a provider does not guarantee you will meet the criteria for testing of COVID-19.

Adapted from Indiana State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control, ISDH prevailing

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COVID-19 Q & ADarlene Schultz
How can I obtain my medical records?

In order to obtain your medical records from another physician:

  1. You can try contacting your previous physician directly and ask them if they can forward your medical records to us.

  2. Some offices have different policies, so, we will just have to obtain these records according to their office policy.

  3. Under normal circumstances, we will mail or fax the request form within a couple of days. How quickly we receive the records from the other physician is entirely up to their office. Also, some physician offices charge patients for their medical records and unfortunately we have no control over that as well.

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Medical record access?Common People United
What classes do you offer?

We offer group classes for weight management for adults and children, diabetes prevention classes using curriculum from the CDC national program, as well as group classes for person with diabetes. The diabetes classes include shared medical appointments with comprehensive diabetes management utilizing an inter-disciplinary team of caregivers. Burmese persons with diabetes are served by a group tailored to their self-management needs that include in-person interpreters, social workers, pharmacist, physicians and certified diabetes educator, just as in the shared medical appointments.

To enroll in our classes, contact us.

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What classes are offered?Common People United
How can I get a copy of my child’s immunization records?

In order to obtain your child’s immunization records for another physician:

  1. Sign a release form in our office along with the physician’s name and address or phone number and we can make sure to forward that request to that physician

  2. You can give our office the physician’s name and phone number and we can contact them

  3. Contact that physician directly and they should not have a problem having them sent to us.

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Immunization records?Common People United
If I move, how can I send my medical records to my new physician?

In order to have your records transferred, where you are moving or switching to a new physician:

  1. You can send us a note requesting the transfer. In the note please include your full name, date of birth, social security number (this if so we have identifiers in order to verify your identity) and the new physician’s name and complete mailing address and fax number (if available). Please make sure you sign and date this note.

  2. You can sign a release form at our office.

  3. You can sign a release form at your new physician’s office and they can mail that request to us or fax that request to 260-423-6621.

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How do I send records?Common People United