In the News

You may now have 2 visitors in the hospital without age restrictions.  There may be more stringent rules in the NICU.  

As COVID-19 rates continue to rise in NH, we want to remind you about the risks of COVID-19 in pregnancy.  

Compared to those who are not pregnant, pregnant women: 

• Are 3 times more likely to need ICU care

• Are 2-3 times more likely to need advanced life support

• Have a 70% increased risk of death

Severe COVID-19 also increases risks for babies:  

• Increases risk of very premature birth by 60%

• Extended NICU stays

• Risk of stillbirth

We are seeing these complications play out in our own patients.  Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and your baby.  The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended in pregnancy by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, and the CDC.  If you have not yet been vaccinated, we STRONGLY RECOMMEND you get vaccinated as soon as possible!  For more information about the vaccine in pregnancy, please click here. 

Elliot Hospital is currently allowing only one visitor for patients on L&D and Maternity.  Children under 18 are NOT allowed.  If your baby has to go to the NICU, more stringent restrictions may apply.  IN ADDITION, THE PATIENT AND SUPPORT PERSON (INCLUDING DADS-TO-BE) MUST WEAR A MASK IF ANY HOSPITAL STAFF IS IN YOUR ROOM.  If your support person has COVID, he or she will not be allowed in the hospital.  If your support person is exhibiting COVID symptoms, he or she may be asked to leave.  COVID rates are higher in NH than they have ever been during the course of the pandemic, and it is IMPERATIVE that we take measures to avoid infections in staff - we need our physicians and nurses healthy to care for you!  If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19 and desire to do so after delivery, you can now get your first vaccine during your hospital stay.  This will be the Pfizer vaccine and would be given prior to your discharge from the postpartum floor.  Your postpartum paperwork will include the recommended date range for your second vaccine, which you could arrange either with your PCP (if you have an Elliot physician) or through a local pharmacy.  You may also receive a Pfizer booster while in the hospital.  

We want to take a moment to remind you of what steps we are taking to decrease our patients' chance of infection in our office.  Your safety is our priority.   

1. We will screen you when you arrive at the office but ask that you call prior to your visit if you have had any exposures to COVID or if you have any symptoms suggestive of COVID.  While we continue to try to provide most of our prenatal care in the office, we may need to delay visits if there is a risk you could be positive.

    a. If you have a positive COVID test we will require 10 days of quarantine from the onset of your symptoms.  If you are >36 weeks pregnant, we will review on a case-by-case basis.

    b. If you have been exposed to COVID but you do not have symptoms, and you are: 

       i. Vaccinated (boosted or second dose in the past 6 months) - you will be allowed to come in for an appointment.

       ii. Not vaccinated (no vaccine, not boosted and second dose >6 months) - you must quarantine for 10 days from the last day of exposure.  If you are >36 weeks pregnant, we will review on a case-by-case basis.

    c. If you have COVID symptoms without a known exposure, you can be seen if you have a negative COVID test.  

2. We continue to require masks while in the office.  All staff are masked as well.

OFFICE: Please do not come in to our office if you have ANY COVID symptoms or if you have a COVID TEST PENDING.  PLEASE BE HONEST WITH US ABOUT COVID SYMPTOMS AND PENDING COVID TESTS.  We are trying to protect our staff and patients.  We will continue to work with you in order to provide care in a safe fashion.  Children will no longer be allowed to attend appointments in our office.  The only exception to this is your newborn for your postpartum appointment.  

HOSPITAL: You are now only allowed ONE SUPPORT PERSON at the hospital.  This person may come and go from the hospital but may not be switched out for anyone else.  Nobody <17yo is allowed in the hospital.  Again, PLEASE BE HONEST WITH US ABOUT COVID SYMPTOMS AND PENDING COVID TESTS.  

You may now have 2 visitors while you are in the hospital.  They may come and go from the hospital but may not be switched out for additional visitors.  Visitors under 17 are no longer allowed in the hospital.  

COVID Update:

Effective immediately we are no longer restricting visitors/support people from coming to routine appointments. Only 1 visitor will be allowed for an ultrasound appointment. All patients and visitors (ages 3+) must wear a mask.

In addition, OB patients may have two support people/visitors (both over 18 years old) while on labor and delivery and/or maternity.  These two people may come and go from the hospital but cannot be switched out for other visitors.  

All patients are now being tested for COVID-19 upon admission to the hospital.  This will be done with a rapid antigen test.  If positive, a confirmatory PCR test will be done.  

COVID update for our obstetrical patients:

As COVID-19 rates continue to rise in NH, we want to take a moment to remind you of what steps we are taking and to decrease our patients’ chance of infection.  Your safety is our priority.  

1. Please let us know if you have had any exposures to COVID or if you have any symptoms suggestive of COVID.  While we continue to try to provide most of our prenatal care in the office, we may need to delay visits if there is a risk you could be positive.

2. We continue to require masks while in the office.  All staff are masked as well.

3. We are still limiting visitors to the office.  Your partner may come with you to your first OB visit and to your screening ultrasound.  You are also welcome to have your partner on speaker phone or FaceTime during your appointments.

Elliot Hospital is again restricting visitors as of 11/16/2020.  You are still welcome to have one support person while in the hospital – both on Labor and Delivery and during your postpartum stay.  This must be the same person – you cannot “switch out” visitors.  We ask that your support person try to limit trips in and out of the hospital as much as possible.

We also ask that you and your support person wear masks when nurses or physicians are in your hospital room.  We understand that when you are in labor, this may not be possible, but your support person should be able to wear a mask at all times when others are in your room.  When you are alone in the room, you may take your masks off.  Many people with COVID are asymptomatic and can transmit the virus without being aware they are infected.  We need our nurses and doctors healthy so they can continue to care for you!

To our valued patients,

As businesses in New Hampshire start to gradually reopen, we are also looking forward to rescheduling patient annuals, consults, follow-up visits, procedures and surgeries. The doctors plan to continue our rotating schedule through 5/25, we will have a modified office schedule starting 5/26, and we are hoping to be seeing many more patients in the office starting 6/1. We will continue to require all patients to wear masks in our office at all times. No family members or guests will be allowed in the office (with limited exceptions). Our Londonderry office will remain closed at this time.

Throughout the past couple of months we have kept track of all of the patients/visits we have had to cancel/delay. We will be contacting you to reschedule these visits. We understand that some people may still be hesitant to come to the office at this time. If you are unsure if you have an appointment scheduled, please call our office to confirm your next appointment time; we are hoping to avoid a high no-show rate as we reopen.

We look forward to seeing you back!

- Manchester OB/GYN Associates

Effective immediately all patients coming into our office will be required to supply and wear their own face covering.  Please click here for CDC guidance.  

The number to reach our on-call physician has changed. If you have a problem or question that cannot wait until normal business hours, the on-call physician can be reached at (603)361-4597.

Masks

• As of 4/2/20, anyone who enters Elliot Hospital must wear a mask.  This includes all employees, visitors and vendors.  

• Employees in our office have been wearing masks for over two weeks.  We are now asking that anyone coming to our office for an ultrasound or a non-stress test wear a mask due to prolonged exposure time between patients and employees.  We encourage all patients to wear cloth masks for your visits.  

• The CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies).  We are so thankful to our friends in the community who have spent the past several weeks sewing cloth masks to keep us safe and healthy.  

Hospital Support

There has been much concern surrounding the labor support person (husband, partner, friend, etc.) being allowed at the hospital for delivery.  At this time, there is no plan to eliminate your labor support person.  Furthermore, these limitations which were previously implemented in New York have since been reversed.  We are hopeful that our patients will continue to be allowed one support person in labor as well as on the maternity floor for their postpartum recovery.  No other visitors will be allowed in the hospital.  

3D Printing - face shields and mask buckles

We are thankful to our friends at Felton (www.feltoninc.com) who have been 3D printing face shields and mask buckles for us (see pictures below).  The face shield received NIH approval this past weekend and has also been approved for use through Elliot Infection Prevention.  If you have a 3D printer at home, and would like to help manufacture these shields please check out the following link: 

https://3dprint.nih.gov/discover/3dpx-013306?fbclid=IwAR0RUIuEmnQxFLT-RmZHA0MkcvLCV4Bx0W9_6EIdy3phqPTgFgFi7Fi2AHQ

Feel free to contact us at moa@manchesterob.com if you have any donations.  

To our valued patients and families, 

This past week has presented new challenges for all of us. Just as your family is doing, Manchester OBGYN Associates is adapting to these challenges with creativity and flexibility. To meet patient needs and safety, we are continuing essential office visits while developing telemedicine services that can reach patients at home. 

Telemedicine visits are provided through a confidential, HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platform.  If you have a computer, iPad, or phone with a camera and internet connection, a telehealth visit may be an option for you. 

For some time, Manchester OB/GYN has offered perinatal mental health services for our pregnant and postpartum patients through a year after the birth of their baby. We are expanding and moving this program online so we can offer much-needed support, counseling, and as-needed medication management during the new challenges we all face. Alison Palmer and Meghan Stringer are available to work with you. These visits will be scheduled by calling the office.

We are also offering acute and consultative telemedicine visits, as appropriate. If you are concerned about vaginal or UTI symptoms, postpartum birth control needs, or other health concerns, we will always work to help you. Do not hesitate to call us at 622-3162.  Please click here for more information. 

Sincerely,

Your healthcare providers at Manchester OB/GYN Associates

 We appreciate all of our patients and also our wonderful staff, who have been so understanding over the past week as we have implemented changes in light of the Coronavirus pandemic.  We understand that this situation has been frustrating and anxiety-provoking.  Please remember that we are always available by phone, and that our office remains open for emergencies and obstetrical care.

This week begins the rotation system we have created for our physicians.  Dr. Stapp and Dr. Backman will be working on the labor floor.  Dr. Donofrio and Dr. Dulac will be in the office.  We will be increasing our use of telemedicine over the next week - while some gynecologic issues are difficult to fully assess without an exam, many concerns can be addressed remotely.  

A few reminders:

•  If you are running out of a medication that we prescribe for you, CALL.  We are happy to refill medications without a visit.
•  If you have concerns about postponing a problem visit, CALL.  We do review all cancelled visits and will be rescheduling problem visits as soon as we are able.
• The office will continue to be open from 8:15 am - 5 pm Monday through Thursday and 8:15 am - 3 pm on Friday.  Please do not wait until 4:59 pm to call with concerns!

Also, we cannot emphasize enough the importance of minimizing your chances of exposure.

• Limit outside contacts.  We know, this is hard.  This means only essentials - no play dates, no gym visits.  You can go outside, just maintain space between you and anyone not in your immediate family.
• Wash your hands.  Disinfect.  You will not be able to avoid touching your face, but try (this will at least reduce the number of touches).  Wash your hands again.

Finally, along with the Elliot we ask everyone to consider donating extra supplies (masks, wipes, protective eyewear, etc) to help keep health care providers healthy. We would greatly appreciate and accept any donations during business hours at our Manchester location.

As stated in our previous update, guidelines and recommendations are rapidly changing in light of COVID-19.  The physicians at Manchester OB/GYN are in constant communication with each other in order to make changes which will keep both our patients and staff safe.  Please see below for our latest changes: 

• IF YOU ARE SICK, PLEASE CANCEL YOUR OFFICE VISIT.  

• EFFECTIVE 3/18/20 WE WILL BE CANCELING ALL ROUTINE GYNECOLOGY VISITS IN OUR OFFICE. We will tentatively start rescheduling these appointments for May 2020.
• If you have a gynecologic emergency, please call our office and we will determine the best plan of care for you.

• We will continue to see routine OB patients in the office.  However, we may adjust your schedule of OB visits in order to minimize your exposure.  
• If you would like to delay coming in for an appointment, please call our office to see if this is medically appropriate. 

• Effective 3/23/20 we will be performing all 8 week OB intake appointments over the phone.  We are in the process of getting our OB intake packet uploaded to our website.  Please stay tuned for this information.  
• We are also working to transition some routine OB visits to phone calls.  

• The physicians at Manchester OB/GYN will be changing our schedules in order to tackle this upcoming healthcare challenge.  We will alternate weeks working from home, working in the office, and working in the hospital.  Our goal is to minimize overall exposures, minimize similar exposures, and stay healthy so that we can continue to provide the exceptional OB/GYN care you have come to expect from our group.  We ask that you be understanding during the upcoming weeks.  All vaginal deliveries and cesarean sections will be performed by the doctors working in the hospital during that week – you may not get the provider you requested for your cesarean section.  It is also possible that your OB visits in the office will be shifted to a different provider without any notice.  Again, this is all to keep our patients and staff safe.  

We ask that you all stay home and practice social distancing as much as possible. We will continue to update you as further changes arise.

Information about coronavirus and its impact on our community is changing rapidly. MOGA is committed to protecting the health of our patients and staff, and will be implementing changes to our office policies to attempt to limit the spread of the virus. Please check back frequently as this information will be evolving. We will also be communicating with patients who have scheduled visits as these changes occur.

First and foremost, IF YOU ARE SICK, PLEASE CALL US TO RESCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT. We will be screening all patients on arrival about travel history, known exposure to coronavirus, and symptoms of fever, shortness of breath, or cough. We do not have the ability to test for coronavirus, so if you believe you may have the virus, we ask that you call your PCP to see if testing is indicated.

If you have a scheduled appointment and have no respiratory symptoms, our office remains open. When you arrive, we will check you in at the front desk and immediately bring you to an exam room to limit your exposure to other patients. WITH RARE EXCEPTION, WE ARE TEMPORARILY PROHIBITING VISITORS. Please do not bring others with you to your exam.  

Regarding changes at the Elliot Hospital, we will also continue to keep you updated as their guidelines are also frequently changing. AS OF 3/15/20, ALL VISITOR ACCESS TO ELLIOT HOSPITAL HAS BEEN SUSPENDED WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS.  ALL ELECTIVE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES ARE CANCELLED EFFECTIVE 3/17/20. This does NOT apply to Cesarean sections, which will not be affected.  

We understand and share your concerns and frustrations with these uncertainties. Again, our priority is keeping our community healthy. While we cannot predict what the future will bring, we are committed to keeping lines of communication open and will frequently be updating our website and social media sites as new information is available. Please be assured that when the number of cases declines and we return to more normal conditions, we will work hard to ensure that all rescheduled patients are seen in a timely fashion.