For patients with COVID-19 concerns,

• 1st Choice offers nasal swab COVID-19 testing at all clinics with results typically back in 24-48 hours.
• 1st Choice providers can help navigate the decision to isolate or self-quarantine.
• 1st Choice providers can help decide when it is safe to discontinue quarantine and return to work.
• 1st Choice providers can help you cope with the increased stress and anxiety accompanying the COVID-19 pandemic.
• We are now performing the antibodies test.
• COVID-19/FLU COMBO RAPID TEST NOW AVAILABLE

The cash price for COVID-19 test is $100. This price is not reflective of the amount paid by patients.
The cash price for COVID-19/Flu Combo Rapid test is $227. This price is not reflective of the amount paid by patients.

WHAT IS ISOLATION?

Isolation is for people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

If you have COVID-19, being in isolation means you must stay home and away from others while you are infectious in order to stop the spread of the virus to anyone else.

LENGTH OF ISOLATION

If you have COVID-19 with mild symptoms, you must isolate until:

• 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared AND
• You have not had fever of 100.4° F or higher for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine AND
• Your symptoms, such as cough or shortness of breath, are improving.

​If you have COVID-19 and are not experiencing any symptoms, you must isolate until:

• 10 days have passed and no symptoms have developed since your positive COVID-19 test.

If you have severe COVID-19 and have been hospitalized or if you have a weakened immune system, you must isolate until:

• 20 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared AND
• You have not had fever of 100.4° F or higher for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine AND
• Your symptoms, such as cough or shortness of breath, are improving.

RESTRICTIONS DURING ISOLATION

• Remain at home and avoid all public activities. This means do not go to work, church, school, stores (including grocery stores), nor any public events or places.
• Do not have visitors in your home.
• If you live in a home with other people, stay in a separate room. If that is not possible, wear a face mask when you are in the same room as others and stay at least 6 feet away from them (i.e. practice social distancing even in your home).
• Wash your hands and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often. Do not share personal items such as dishes, cups, forks, spoons, towels, etc.
• Do not leave your home except to get urgent or emergency medical care. If you need to see a doctor for reasons other than a medical emergency, please call your medical provider ahead of time to make proper arrangements.
•  In the event of a medical emergency, call 911. Tell them that you are in home isolation due to COVID-19 infection. Keep a face mask on until a health care provider asks you to remove it. If you do not have a mask, use a folded kerchief or other similar device to cover your nose and mouth.
• Do not use any public transportation (buses, taxis, ride share services, or airplane).
• Check yourself for fever twice a day. This means taking your temperature in the morning and before bed at night and writing down the reading each time. The ADH will need this information to determine when you are able to resume normal activities or if you need additional care.
• If you begin to have additional symptoms, or if you otherwise feel sick, contact your health care provider.

Additional Help

For immediate sheltering needs for people who are homeless or displaced or cannot safely quarantine at home, please call (501) 661-2136.

For all other issues, contact the ADH call center at (800) 803-7847.

• Click here for Self Home Isolation Guidance
• When You Can be Around Others After You Had or Likely Had COVID-19

WHAT IS QUARANTINE?

Quarantine is an important way to stop the spread of COVID-19. It means staying home and away from others after you have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.

If you are a close contact to a person with COVID-19, you need to quarantine for 14 days from the time of the exposure. Close contact, generally, means you were within 6 feet of the person for at least 15 minutes total while they were infectious. COVID-19 patients are considered infectious two days before their symptoms started, or two days before their positive test if they do not develop symptoms.

If you are a close contact, you need to quarantine even if you don’t feel sick and even if you have received a negative test for COVID-19.

LENGTH OF QUARANTINE

The incubation period of the virus that causes COVID-19 is up to 14 days. Therefore, the quarantine period needs to last 14 days from the most recent exposure to the positive patient. If you are exposed again during quarantine, the 14-day period must start over again.

If you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 during the quarantine period, you must follow the instructions for isolating yourself.

RESTRICTIONS DURING QUARANTINE

• Remain at home and avoid all public activities. This means do not go to work, church, school, stores (including grocery stores), nor any public events or places.
• Do not have visitors in your home.
• If you live in a home with other people, stay in a separate room. If that is not possible, wear a face mask when you are in the same room as others and stay at least 6 feet away from them (i.e. practice social distancing even in your home).
• Wash your hands and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often. Do not share personal items such as dishes, cups, forks, spoons, towels, etc.
• Do not leave your home except to get urgent or emergency medical care. If you need to see a doctor for reasons other than a medical emergency, please call your medical provider ahead of time to make proper arrangements.
• In the event of a medical emergency, call 911. Tell them that you are in home quarantine due to possible COVID-19 exposure. Keep a face mask on until a health care provider asks you to remove it. If you do not have a mask, use a folded kerchief or other similar device to cover your nose and mouth.
• Do not use any public transportation (buses, taxis, ride share services, or airplane).
• Check yourself for fever twice a day. This means taking your temperature in the morning and before bed at night and writing down the reading each time. The ADH will need this information to determine when you are able to resume normal activities or if you need additional care.
• If you begin to have symptoms such as fever, cough, or trouble breathing, or if you otherwise feel sick, contact your health care provider.

Additional Help:

For immediate sheltering needs for people who are homeless or displaced or cannot safely quarantine at home, please call (501) 661-2136. For all other issues, contact the ADH call center at (800) 803-7847.

• Click here for Self Home Quarantine Guidance

The Arkansas Department of Health has scenarios in place to help understand calculating your quarantine period.

To help prevent the spread of infections, starting immediately, 1st Choice Healthcare will limit visitors to 1 per patient.  If the visitor appears ill or is running a fever or has a history of exposure to Covid-19, the visitor will not be allowed to accompany the patient into the clinic.

Call 1st Choice first and we will help you determine which is the best and safest healthcare option for you.

Currently, 1st choice is providing:

• Telehealth for sick, well, and behavioral health visits
• Drive-up Services for sick visits
• Traditional in-office visits for sick and well visits with protected time for our most vulnerable patients.

We are not accepting walk-in appointments at this time.

Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face

*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include

• Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
• Changes in sleep or eating patterns
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
• Worsening of chronic health problems
• Worsening of mental health conditions
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

1st Choice Healthcare has Licenced Social Workers on staff ready to help you talk through your fears and worries. 

Information from the Center For Disease Control & Prevention

Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 illness. More information on Are you at higher risk for serious illness?

Know how it spreads

• There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
• The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
• The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
  • These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
  • Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

Everyone Should

Wash your hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, even inside your home. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
• Put distance between yourself and other people outside of your home.
  • Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
  • Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people.
  • Do not gather in groups.
  • Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.
  • Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others

• You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
• Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.
  • Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
• The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
• Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.
• Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.

Cover coughs and sneezes

• If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean and disinfect

• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
• If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
• Then, use a household disinfectant. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectantsexternal icon will work.