Do you have flu type symptoms?
Call us at 800-424-4652 before coming to our clinics.
INFORMATION FOR ALL MEMBERS
In an effort to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus, we are informing our members of the following practices to keep your family safe and healthy.
If you are sick, please call SIMNSA (from USA) 800-424-4652 , 664 231 4747 before coming to our clinics and contracted urgent care centers. Our team will advise you on the best course of action for your health.
Please note that only patients will be admitted into our clinic. Accompanying family members will be asked to wait in a designated waiting area. Any member needing assistance may bring someone over the age of 18. We apologize for the inconvenience, however, it is vital to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
If you have appointments for non-essential care such as radiology, physical therapy, etc. we may be rescheduling those appointments. If you choose to electively cancel upcoming appointments, SIMNSA will not charge cancellation fees.
If you do not have a scheduled appointment with your healthcare provider, you may be asked to call our appointment center for the next available day and time. We apologize for the inconvenience, however, it is important that we limit the amount of patients in our facilities at this time.
We can assure you that if it is medically necessary for you to be tested, we will test you. All points of entry to our campus will have screening tables with medical staff who may ask questions including what your symptoms are, if you’ve knowingly been exposed to a COVID-19 patient, or if you’ve traveled to an infected area.
Additionally, testing areas have been set up outside of the Tijuana or Mexicali SIMNSA medical campuses, please note that test kits are currently limited.
To determine who should be tested, SIMNSA Health Plan will use the guidelines and criteria set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
We understand your concerns about the opportunity to get tested and the availability of tests.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CORONAVIRUS
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. Rarely, animal coronaviruses evolve and can infect people, developing in illness. This new virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2”, and the disease it causes, “COVID-19”.
[covid19 country=”USA” title=”USA” style=”4″ dark_mode=”no” label_total=”Total” label_confirmed=”Confirmed” label_deaths=”Deaths” label_recovered=”Recovered” label_active=”Active”]
WHAT CAN WE DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES?
Protect yourself against Coronavirus
Wash your hands
Frequently wash hands with water and soap and use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid close contact
Avoid physical contact when greeting.
Stay home
Avoid contact with anyone presenting flu-like symptoms.
Cover coughs and sneezes
Cover nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or flexed elbow.
Wear a face mask
Wear face-mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
Clean and disinfect
Clean and disinfect surfaces, equipment and objects of common use in working areas and closed spaces.
The following symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure.
FEVER
COUGH
SHORTNESS OF BREATH
CONSTANT HEADACHE
If you develop extreme symptoms of COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. This may include difficulty breathing and persistent pain or pressure in the chest.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Different parts of the country are seeing different levels of COVID-19 activity. The United States nationally is currently in the initiation phases, but states where community spread is occurring are in the acceleration phase.
Read more…
Secretariat of Health
At least 82 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Mexico, with no deaths, the country’s health ministry said on Monday. But experts say the real numbers could be much higher as testing has been limited.
Read more…
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
For more specific questions, contact us
WHAT IS THE COVID-19?
The respiratory virus was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in late 2019.
This virus likely emerged from an animal source and is now spreading from person to person. While some viruses, like the flu and measles, are highly contagious, others are less so. World health leaders and scientists are trying to identify how COVID-19 is spreading and how to contain it.
WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT CORONAVIRUS?
There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus (COVID-19). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is currently developing a vaccine, though it could be more than a year until one becomes available.
While scientists work to develop a vaccine, the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus.
The CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of respiratory viruses, including:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you’re sick.
- Cover your entire mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. If a tissue is unavailable, cough or sneeze into your bent elbow.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
HOW IS SIMNSA SCREENING PATIENTS FOR CORONAVIRUS?
SIMNSA facilities have a standard protocol in place for any infectious disease, including the coronavirus, and each facility has a surge capacity plan to ensure proper care is delivered to all our patients.
At SIMNSA departments and medical clinics, we ask arriving patients about:
- Recent travel: please inform your health care provider if you have recently traveled to any affected geographic areas as noted by the CDC
- Contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19
- Any symptoms that may be related to COVID-19 (such as high fever and dry cough)
If a patient meets these criteria, the patient is immediately masked and placed in a private room in a hospital or clinic setting. If necessary, transport is arranged if a patient needs to be moved from a clinic to a hospital for further evaluation and possible testing.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I THINK I HAVE CORONAVIRUS?
If you have had close contact with someone who is confirmed to have, or is being evaluated for, coronavirus, and think you may be sick, the CDC recommends self-isolation within your home.
You should also:
- Monitor your health starting from the day you first had close contact with the person
- Continue monitoring for 14 days after you last had close contact with the person
- Watch for these signs and symptoms:
-Fever (take your temperature twice a day)
-Cough
-Runny nose
-Sore throat
-Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
If you develop a fever or any of these symptoms, call your health care provider immediately and inform them of your close contact with someone who is confirmed to have, or being evaluated for, coronavirus.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM BEING EVALUATED FOR CORONAVIRUS?
If you’re being evaluated for the virus and don’t need to be hospitalized, you should take the following steps:
- Stay home except to get necessary medical care
- Separate yourself from any other people in your home
- Call ahead before visiting your health care provider to let them know you’re being evaluated for coronavirus
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and then wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Avoid sharing household items such as dishes, utensils, cups, etc.
- Monitor symptoms and seek prompt medical attention if the illness is worsening (e.g., difficulty breathing)
WHAT ARE SIMNSA'S CLINIC VISITATION GUIDELINES?
While it is safe to come to any SIMNSA facility for your medical needs, we have implemented new visitation guidelines for our hospitals to protect those who are most vulnerable in accordance with the OMS guidelines.
Until further notice, the following restrictions are in effect:
- No visitors are allowed to visit a patient at any SIMNSA department.
- Only one adult (18 and older) support person is allowed for labor and delivery patients at SIMNSA.
- Only one adult (18 and older) is allowed to visit an adolescent patient at SIMNSA.
- No children are allowed inside the departments of SIMNSA.
- Anyone visiting under these restrictions must be free of any symptoms of respiratory illness.
- Allowed visitors will be screened for health and travel history prior to seeing a patient.
- No one under the age of 18 may accompany a patient to any appointment.
HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS?
To learn more about the coronavirus, please visit the following:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Institutes of Health
- World Health Organization
- San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency
If you have questions please call SIMNSA (from USA) 800 424 – 4652 or SIMNSA Tijuana 664 231 4747.
HOW CAN I GET VACCINATED IN MEXICO?
SIMNSA is awaiting guidance from the Government of Mexico and Secretary of Health for vaccine distribution protocol. Once the vaccine is available in Mexico, SIMNSA will update its members on how to receive the vaccine. The Government has provided an estimated roll-out date of April 2021. This estimate will be updated accordingly.
HOW MUCH WILL THE VACCINE COST?
SIMNSA will not charge a copay to receive the vaccine.
CAN I GET THE VACCINE OUTSIDE OF SIMNSA?
You may be able to get the vaccine from any facility that has been approved as a Covid-19 vaccine provider. Eligibility will be determined by the County of San Diego or County of Imperial, according to their Tier/Phases system. Please refer to County of San Diego website www.sandiegocounty.gov or County of Imperial website www.icphd.org. If you are eligible, you may provide your SIMNSA ID for the provider to bill your insurance.
CONTACT US
Your health and safety are extremely important to us.
Let’s help prevent the spread of COVID-19, if you have symptoms or have been in close contact with a person who has the virus, call ahead, our staff is trained to answer your questions and assist you.
SIMNSA (from USA) 800 424 – 4652
SIMNSA Tijuana 664 231 4747