Uf Health Leesburg Hospital. // Archive photo

As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in Florida and Lake and Sumter counties, UF Health Leesburg Hospital and UF Health The Villages Hospital now offer virtual screenings for the community. 

“Telehealth, the virtual care platform that allows health-care professionals and patients to meet by phone, seems tailor-made for this moment in time,” says Chris Wood, MHA, corporate director of clinic operations and PHO at UF Health Central Florida. “Virtual care solutions can help flatten the curve of COVID-19 infections and help us deploy medical staff and lifesaving equipment wisely.”

Callers will speak with a doctor to determine their risk level based on upper respiratory systems that could be due to COVID-19, a news release states.

“Before you call, write down your symptoms, whether you have a fever and whether you’ve taken any medicine,” Chris says. “Be ready to answer a few questions that might seem tedious, such as where you have traveled recently. Resist the urge to ask reasonable but non-medical questions that are time-consuming. General questions should be referred to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.”

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, sneezing, congestion or shortness of breath, and would like to schedule a telehealth appointment, call 352.751.8790 from 8am-4:30pm Monday-Friday. 

For more information about how UF Health facilities are responding to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ufhealth.org.