At Valley Medical Group, your health is our top priority, and we remain committed to providing you with the highest-quality primary and specialty care.
VMG Safe Visit Guidelines
To protect the safety of our patients and staff, we ask that you let us know in advance if you:
- Are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19
- Have had a recent exposure to someone with COVID-19
- Have traveled out of the area while unvaccinated
In such cases we can offer options for your care, which include being offered a virtual visit, rescheduling your appointment to a safer time, or continuing with your in-office visit with our vaccinated staff taking appropriate precautions
We are also taking the following steps to ensure you have a Safe Visit at all of our Valley Medical Group offices:
When visiting our offices:
- Patients and visitors are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated* for COVID-19.
- We ask patients to come to their appointments unaccompanied whenever possible. If you want or need to be accompanied to your visit, please limit to one guest.
- Please leave children at home with another adult if possible.
- All patients and staff must wear a mask or cloth face-covering, regardless of vaccination status. Patients must wear a mask even when waiting in the exam room.
- Face covering must fully cover mouth and nose and include ear loops or ties to ensure a secure fit.
- Patients and visitors are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated* for COVID-19.
- To schedule a vaccine appointment, click here or call 1-800 VALLEY 1.
- If vaccinated, please be prepared to show vaccine card or Docket app/Excelsior pass/NYC COVID Safe, so we can update your medical record, AND proof of ID.
Screening
- In accordance with state & local guidelines, all patients will be screened for travel, symptoms, and exposure to COVID-19 prior to the office visit and upon arrival to the office.
- Based on your symptoms and exposure, our providers will make a clinical judgment and allow you to choose how you would like to receive care. We ask patients to let us know if they have:
- Symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 24 hours, or persistent symptoms and a negative COVID test
- Recently been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days
- If fully vaccinated for COVID-19, patients should be tested for COVID on day 5 following exposure. If COVID-19 test is negative, no precautions are necessary for an in-office visit to VMG.
- Traveled outside of NJ, NY, DE, PA, or CT within the past 10 days
- Recently tested positive for COVID-19 (with or without symptoms)
- Or, are waiting for a result from a COVID-19 test
Travel Guidelines
Patients Who Are Fully Vaccinated* for COVID-19:
- After Domestic Travel in the United States:
- No quarantine or testing is indicated. Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- You do NOT need to get tested or self-quarantine if you are fully vaccinated* or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months. You should still follow all other travel recommendations.
- After International Travel:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel.
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Quarantine is not necessarily required for fully vaccinated patients following international travel. Follow the CDC guidelines for travel recommendations by destination.
Patients Who Are NOT Fully Vaccinated* for COVID-19:
- After travel outside of NJ, NY, DE, CT, or PA:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.
- Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
- If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
Additional Safety Measures
- All offices remain configured to meet social distancing guidelines and ensure patients can remain at least six feet from each other, including up to 50% capacity in waiting rooms.
- Scheduled appointments will continue to be staggered to limit patient arrivals and departures as appropriate.
- Patients are offered an online check-in process with the ability to communicate by text to ensure they are brought into the waiting room only when there is adequate space for social distancing. In some cases, patients may be brought directly into exam rooms.
- We are continuously cleaning common areas, exam rooms and high-touch surfaces.
*Patients are Considered Fully Vaccinated
- Two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- Two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.
A Safer Check-In, in 4 Steps
1. Patients will receive an email before their visit, with a link to the online check-in. They’ll also receive a phone call the day before to confirm their information, answer COVID-19 screening questions, and pay their copay (if applicable).
2. When the patient arrives for their visit, they’ll confirm their arrival via text message, while staying in their vehicle. This limits their time spent in common office areas, as well as contact with staff or other patients.
3. A front desk staff member will let the patient know when it’s time for them to come into the office. Before entering the building, a nurse will take the patient’s temperature.
4. The nurse will escort the patient directly through the office and into their exam room, where they’ll be seen promptly by their provider.
