For Medical Professionals

New Diagnostic Walk-in Hours

https://www.cvph.org/Patients-and-Visitors/Patients/Diagnostic-Services-Available

Low-Dose Lung Screening

The Low-Dose Lung Screening at CVPH is an essential program for identifying positive findings in lung cancer patients early on.  This program is critical in early detection and can help patients receive timely lifesaving treatment.  If you have a patient that you have identified as a lung cancer risk, please continue to recommend screening.   A lung screening coordinator will call your office immediately if there is a positive finding.  You would then contact your patient directly to discuss the finding.  If there is a negative finding a letter will be sent directly to the patient.  If you have additional questions please call one of our Radiologists at (518) 562-7500.  In the coming months our Low-Dose Screening resources will improve as we develop and grow our care team.  As our program expands, so will our ability to reach out directly to patients.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to Haley with questions (Hayley Kourofsky, MRI/CT Radiology Manager, 518-314-3021 or hkourofsky@cvph.org )

CVPH will transition all of its COVID-19 testing to its main campus 

COVID-19 testing at CVPH’s main campus will be offered seven days a week during the following hours:

• Symptomatic patients: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Asymptomatic patients

• Monday-Friday: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Sunday: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Those seeking a COVID-19 test will enter through the Main Lobby and get screened. Asymptomatic and symptomatic patients will be tested in separate spaces. To limit the spread of the virus, CVPH continues to follow New York State Department of Health guidelines, including:

• Anyone entering our facility to get tested must wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status.
• Proper social distancing of at least six feet will be required.
• Employees collecting the samples will wear appropriate PPE.

An order from a health care provider is required. For symptomatic patients who do not have a Primary Care Provider, CVPH will obtain an order for the test from the Clinton County Health Department (CCHD). Results will be sent to the ordering provider. Patients may also get their results through https://hixny.org/.

With the state ending its support of COVID-19 testing sites and free testing no longer available through BioReference Laboratories, insurance will be billed, and it is recommended that patients bring their health insurance card with them when they get tested.

Beginning Wednesday, July 28, CCHD will offer free testing for asymptomatic individuals who do not have health insurance or a Primary Care Provider. Testing will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Health Department offices at 133 Margaret Street. There are several locations across Clinton County also offering COVID-19 tests. For more information on those locations, visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov.

Lyme Assay Confirmation Change - Effective July 22, 2021

On 7/22/2021, the CVPH laboratory will be changing its methodology for Lyme antibody confirmation testing on serum. Currently, we use a traditional two-tier system comprised of a Lyme screen (Diasorin Liason Lyme Total Antibody Plus- IgG and IgM) and confirmation via immunoblot (Roboblot). We will be switching to a modified two-tier testing (MTTT) system comprised of our current Diasorin Lyme Screen and confirmation using Diasorin semi-quantitative direct IgG and IgM immunoassays. The FDA cleared MTTT for diagnosis of Lyme disease in July of 2019 (1). In our own validation studies and through literature studies, the MTTT system utilizing the Diasorin assays provides the same level of specificity as using our traditional two-tier system, but increases the sensitivity (by as much as two-fold) in early Lyme disease (2).

This change will affect how Lyme confirmation testing is reported. Currently, our reference lab reported the individual bands detected for the Lyme IgG and IgM immunoblot along with a positive/negative determination based on the number of bands detected for both IgG and IgM. This will be replaced by two individual results for the Lyme IgG Antibody and Lyme IgM Antibody that will be reported as either Negative, Equivocal, or Positive. There will still be a Lyme Interpretation that integrates the individual IgG and IgM results into a succinct analysis.

With this change to using the MTTT system, the Lyme Ab screen needs to be assayed using the DiaSorin method. Therefore, the Lyme confirmation test will not be orderable to clients as a stand-alone test but is a reflex-only test that will be for CVPH lab Use Only.

Changes at the New York State Covid-19 Testing Site

New York State is ending free COVID-19 testing through BioReference. Currently any patient who is asymptomatic or symptomatic will need an order from their PCP and their insurance will be billed.  This is a result of NYS ending state of emergency orders last month.Patients will need to bring their insurance cards and patients who do not have insurance will be billed out of pocket.  For us to perform a test on a patient  (both asymptomatic and symptomatic) they will need will need an order from a provider.  

New ECHO Technology for CVPH Cardiology Patients

https://youtu.be/rgyCzf_zh40 

CT Scan Availability 

Due to severe staffing shortages, the Radiology Department, at the moment, has limited outpatient availability for CT scan orders.  For the near future patients will likely experience longer wait times for outpatient CT’s.  As you know, Radiology covers ED and inpatient CT 24/7 and they will always take add-ons when a stat exam is required.  They ask that stat orders are not abused so they can manage the patients that require an immediate CT. This staffing shortage is expected to be resolved toward the end of the summer and you will be notified as outpatient CT access improves. 

United Healthcare Community Plan

It has recently come to our attention that patients with United Healthcare Community (UHC) Plan are receiving denials when referred to our specialty offices.  In order for the specialist visit to be covered, the PCP must submit the referral to United Healthcare Community Plan for all patients under;

•             United Healthcare Community Plan for Families (Medicaid)

•             United Healthcare Community Plan Wellness4Me (HARP)

•             United Healthcare Community Plan (CHP)

You can submit the referral to UHC at UHCprovider.com or send a fax to 888-624-2748.  Please refer to the attachment (United Healthcare Community Plan) for a full list of services that do not require this extra step such as women’s health, radiology (with the exception of MRI/CT), dental, eye care, behavioral health, PT and smoking cessation. 

 MRI Referrals with Relation to Creatinine/GFR Lab Tests

We have recently changed MRI contrast to Dotarem, which has an impeccable safety record. In 30 years on the market, there is not one known case of NSF. Because of this improvement, if you are ordering an MRI with contrast, we no longer need you to order a creatinine/GFR test prior.  This will be one less hurtle for our shared patients.

Please note, nothing has changed for CT referrals.  Creatinine/GFR is still required within 60 days of scan for patients with h/o kidney disease, HTN, diabetes, or over the age of 60.

Interventional Radiology Ordering “Cheat Sheet”

It came to our attention that many of you were frustrated with the IR ordering/referral process.  There seems to be a lot of unwanted back and forth.  We are under strict ordering guidelines when it comes to IR.   Our IR leadership has put together a cheat sheet that is intended to be a guide to what is required by The Joint Commission.  Please reach out to Becky Larkin to request a cheat sheet (rlarkin@cvph.org)

295 New York Road closed for Covid testing on these dates

The Covid testing site at 295 New York Road (old Wellness Ctr) will not be open on these holidays.  Surgical Pre ops will be performed at the CVPH Main Campus on these days.  

New Year’s Day (1/1/22)

Memorial Day (5/31/21)

Fourth of July (7/4/21)

Labor Day (9/6/21)

Thanksgiving (11/25/21)

Christmas (12/25/21)

Pre-procedure Covid Testing required only 4 days now (not 5)

Patients will now need to be tested 4 days before a procedure instead of 5 days before a procedure. This will be starting for procedures scheduled for May 10th – so patients with a procedure scheduled for Monday, May 10th would need to get their COVID test on Thursday, May 6th.  As a reminder pre-procedure testing is located at 295 New York Road. We are open 7 days a week from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The tests will be done indoors. There will be two separate entrances, one for asymptomatic clients and another for those with COVID-like symptoms.  You can also send questions to CoronavirusUpdate@cvph.org.

New Phone Tree for the CVPH Laboratory

In an effort to better manage the increased volume of calls coming into the lab due to Covid questions we will be going live with a phone tree.  This will help community providers and office staff reach the CVPH lab staff directly and in a timely manner.  Below I bolded the important take-a-ways;

• You will still fax your lab orders to 518-314-3980
• The CVPH lab phone number is still 518-562-7400.  Please press 2 to reach the lab staff directly.
• The phone tree lists a fax number 518-562-7415, do not fax orders to this number.
• Please still have patients call Central Scheduling (518-562-7340) to schedule their test/draw.  (Let me know if you want me to drop off more wallet cards for patients)

Citrix Access

If you need Citrix access and have not previously had an account.  For new account users please email me (rlarkin@cvph.org) and I will send you the form for setup. 

If you already have an account and are having access issues please call the CVPH Help Desk at 518-562-7444 to speak with a representative that can trouble shoot your access. 

Important (!!) information on patient privacy and correct referral information

It has come to our attention that some offices are using an outdated fax number to send patient information to CVPH Cardiology.   The correct fax number for CVPH Cardiology is (518) 314-3438.

Please refer to the most current CVPH Specialist Sheet (see link on right).  

If you need to verify information before sending patient information, please contact the clinic by phone. 

Scheduling PET Scans and Labs

Just a friendly reminder that the PAC does not schedule PET Scans, those are done through a company called MMRI. Their phone number is 1-800-862-4032. We are getting an increase in offices trying to schedule these scans. 

Also a reminder that labs need to be scheduled. Patients are showing up to draw locations and then having to call CVPH to schedule. Please have patients call Central Scheduling (518-562-7340) to schedule their test/draw.  If you need more wallet cards I am happy to drop some off.   If you could fax the order ahead of time, ideally 24 hrs ahead, we can have everything ready for the patient upon arrival.  This will cut down on wait times.  The fax number is 518-314-3980. 

Pfizer-BioNTech Fact Sheet

Moderna-Fact Sheet

Diagnostics

For diagnostic cards, with instructions on calling Central Scheduling, please email me at rlarkin@cvph.org.  I am happy to drop them off at your office.  These wallet cards are helpful for patients.

To access diagnostic grid please go to https://www.cvph.org/Patients-and-Visitors/Patients/Diagnostic-Services-Available If you are sending a patient for a COVID-19 test, please call CVPH Patient Registration at (518) 562-7091 and then fax the order to 518-314-3980.

An experienced RN Case Manager is on call to answer the hotline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This facilitates getting the patient to the right bed, in the right facility, and will improve communication and efficiency. Referring physicians are linked to receiving physicians on a recorded line to ensure real-time capture of vital information

COVID-19 NYS Hotline

• The New York State Department of Health has established a toll-free Novel Coronavirus Hotline.  Call 888-364-3065.

Contact Us

Please reach Becky Larkin at RLarkin@cvph.org with feedback, questions or concerns.