Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) reopened more than 50 Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) practices and some ExpressCARE locations May 1 in the Lehigh Valley.

The facilities closed in early April because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

COVID-safe precautions, including staggered patient arrival times, are in effect. Same-day appointments, virtually or in-person, are guaranteed. Hours have been expanded to include weekends.

“With COVID-19 still in our community, we are putting in place several measures to protect our patients. Among them, our care team members will have temperatures taken at the start of every shift and we are implementing even more rigorous cleaning and patient flow protocols to ensure all facilities and patient care areas are safe,” said Jennifer Stephens, DO, Chief Medical Officer, LVPG.

Additional measures LVPG is taking to ensure patient safety include:

• Having patients wait in their vehicle instead of the waiting room. Upon arrival, a patient is to call the office from the parking. When it’s time for the appointment, a patient will be called.

• Patients and an accompanying visitor must wear a face mask unless a medical reason prevents it.

• All patients and visitors will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon entering the LVPG office.

• Social distancing in spacing out seating will be observed in waiting areas.

“We will continue to recommend virtual-care options, like telephone visits, e-visits and video visits for care that does not require an in-person appointment,” Stephens said. “By using our secure patient portal, called MyLVHN, patients can complete many steps that often occur at check in, such as completing questionnaires or doing eCheck-in, right from the convenience and comfort of their home.”

Reopenings list: www. LVHN.org/reopenings