Prevent health problems: Get back to your routine care.

Are you still delaying doctor visits due to COVID-19? More than 40% of Ohioans are, according to a recent survey by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Staying safe at home was important early in the pandemic. But it’s just as important to stay safe now by returning to your regular medical care. That includes routine checkups and cancer screenings, like mammograms and colonoscopies. They can help you head off health problems down the road.

“You can be confident that we are taking every precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when you come to Cleveland Clinic for medical appointments,” says Neil Smith, DO, a Cleveland Clinic internal medicine physician and President of Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital. To protect you, Cleveland Clinic: • Takes the temperature of everyone entering our buildings.

• Requires that everyone wear face masks in our buildings, unless they can’t because of a medical or behavioral condition. (Cleveland Clinic caregivers also wear face shields.) • Mandates physical distancing and limits the number of people in each area. • Disinfects surfaces frequently.

You also may be able to see and talk to your doctor from home by using your smartphone, tablet or computer. Video visits are scheduled through MyChart. If you don’t already have a MyChart account, sign up at ClevelandClinic.org/Mychart-Video-Visits.

“Just like wearing a face mask and keeping your hands clean, having regular medical checkups and screenings can help you stay as healthy as possible,” says Dr. Smith. “If you put off medical appointments due to COVID-19, it’s time to reschedule them.”

To schedule an appointment with a Cleveland Clinic primary care provider at Avon Hospital, call 216.444.2273.

Neil Smith, DO Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital