Latest News

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HURRICANE IDA UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 7, 2020:

ATTENTION NMA PATIENTS

Dear Patients,
We hope that you and your families are safe and well in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida.  We have received intermittent phone calls from patients who can manage to get through to us and want to give you an update as best we can.

What we know for sure is that all of our systems are down with no functional space and we have very few options available currently to get us back to where we would need to be, that is to be functionally operational.  The devastation in LaPlace is catastrophic.  Our main facility in LaPlace, which is the hub office for all locations, is severely damaged and most likely uninhabitable for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, this will affect all patients at all office locations in a very big way.

Due to the current power and internet situation, we expect to be out of office and unreachable for weeks.  Please know that we are attempting to address these issues as best we can.  
Unfortunately, under these unavoidable circumstances due to Hurricane Ida, we are currently unable to provide medical care in the appropriate manner necessary to ensure the safe and effective care and treatment of our very complex chronic pain population in the manner in which the state medical board mandates.

In the meantime, we recommend that for those of you who cannot wait or delay treatment, you seek care where you can find it.  The Louisiana State PMP (pharmacy board website,  currently unavailable to our practice sites) contains your medication information and can be used as a treatment guide for any physician you choose to see.

Fred DeFrancesch, M.D. 

JUNE 10, 2020 COVID-19 UPDATE:

Our patients' health and well-being are important to us. In observance of social distancing and State Health Department recommendations, we are only seeing WELL patients in the office.

If you feel sick or are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever over 100 degrees, coughing, shortness of breath, upper respiratory issues, loss of taste or smell or if you or anyone you have had immediate contact with has tested positive for COVID-19 (Corona Virus) please call our office before you come in for your appointment. 

PLEASE BE SURE TO WEAR A MASK, SCARF OR SOME TYPE OF  FACIAL COVERING WHEN YOU COME INTO OUR OFFICES.  The CENTERS FOR DISEASE  CONTROL tells us that face masks are  absolutely necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19. 

In response to the somewhat relaxed COVID 19 restrictions, our doctors will be seeing WELL patients ONLY in the office beginning May 1st.  Pre-appointment telephone screenings will continue.  Any patient who currently has fever, coughing, shortness of breath, or has been in contact with any sick person will continue to be a TELEMED patient and will be scheduled as such.  

We are asking WELL patients to arrive no more than 10 minutes before the scheduled appointment time and all are asked to PLEASE REMAIN IN THEIR CAR.  Patients will call the office when they arrive and our staff will instruct them when to come into the building.  At this time, ONLY PATIENTS will be allowed in the building.  NO family members, friends, care-givers etc.  ALL PATIENTS will be asked/required to wear some type of facial covering such as a mask, bandana or scarf.  

We will be allowing only one patient at a time in the waiting area, so please have patience with us as we navigate the “new normal” and do our very best to keep all patients safe and healthy.

UPDATE  3-24-2020

DUE TO COVID-19 restrictions, MOST patient visits will be performed by TELEMEDICINE.

Patients will receive a phone call on the day of their appointment to schedule a telemedicine visit.

SEVERE ISSUES can be dealt with in person, but must be scheduled.

ALL ROUTINE injections are postponed until after 4-21-2020

SEVERE PAIN MAY REQUIRE AN INJECTION AND WE WILL ACCOMMODATE THESE PATIENTS ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS to prevent unnecessary EMERGENCY Room visits.

UNTIL these restrictions are lifted BY THE STATE, this will be the NMA policy

PLEASE CONTACT US at 985-479-8000 FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND FOR FREQUENT UPDATES, go to nmaclinic.com

In response to the public health situation involving the coronavirus/COVID-19, rest assured NMA/ISS has taken measures to both assist our patients during this time as well as reduce the burden on hospitals and other clinics on the front line of this pandemic response.

At NMA we are:

• Limiting office and waiting room access to patients only.   Patients are not to  arrive more than 10 minutes before scheduled appointment times.

• Mandating any employees who are ill MUST remain home.  Currently, NONE of our employees are ill.

• Per State mandate, no elective procedures can be performed until April 21, 2020.

In addition to the above measures already implemented, we are monitoring the situation and considering further measures, including telemedicine, to help you manage your chronic condition over the next several weeks.

Please continue to check our website frequently as it will be the quickest way for us to update our patients on clinic status.

Thank you for your trust and confidence,

Fred DeFrancesch, M.D.