COVID-19 Guidance
If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, there are now multiple treatment options available to you (depending on eligibility and supply). Learn more about what to do depending on your situation:
What to Do:
Policy Updates
- Visitor policy: To ensure safety, we have changed our visitor policy based on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s tiered guidelines.
- Staying in the hospital: Updated guidelines for patients.
- Birthing policy: Birthing partners may remain with the patient until discharge. Learn more.
COVID-19 Treatment
What is the Treatment for COVID-19?
Most patients who test positive will not require hospitalization and can recover at home.
Patients who do need inpatient care will receive care in isolation once admitted to a hospital. Multiple areas within Baystate Health are safely housing COVID-19 patients, providing appropriate isolation to help prevent spread of the virus.
Learn how to refer a patient for COVID-19 treatment.
There are also outpatient treatment options. Current treatment options, based on clinical studies and Emergency Authorization Use or Expanded Access approvals from the FDA, include both IV and oral treatment options:
1. Paxlovid: An oral antiviral that has excellent efficacy and safety data—must be given within 5 days of symptom onset. Learn more.
2. Remdesivir: An IV therapy, originally authorized to treat hospitalized patients with COVID pneumonia, is now used off-label for treating outpatients within 7 days of symptom onset—requires IV infusion over 3 consecutive days. Learn more.
3. Molnupiravir: An oral antiviral that has marginal efficacy data and safety concerns regarding reproductive toxicity—must be given within 5 days of symptom onset.(Not currently offered at Baystate Health)
Learn more about what to do if you test positive with COVID-19.
Prevention
In addition to taking everyday preventive measures like getting vaccinated, wearing a mask, and testing, there are therapies available (known as pre-exposure prophylaxis).
Evusheld: A preventive monoclonal antibody therapy for certain high-risk individuals that can help protect against COVID-19 before exposure happens. Evusheld is given in a series of two injections on after the other every six months.
Refer a patient for treatment or preventive therapy.
Virtual Care
We offer virtual care options for all Baystate Health patients, including telehealth phone calls and video chats with providers and secure messaging through the MyBaystate patient portal.
What should I expect during a virtual appointment?
With virtual care, you can talk with your provider in real time from the comfort of your home. During your virtual appointment, your provider will:
- Talk with you about your symptoms and conditions
- Review your medical history, answer your questions, diagnose your symptoms, and prescribe medicines as needed
Learn more and make an appointment
In-Person Care
In our effort to keep us all safe, we are transitioning to virtual care visits whenever possible. If you have an in-office visit scheduled, we urge you to please check our current visitor and care partner policy. For all our safety and in following state guidelines, please wear your mask to your healthcare appointment.
While we have expanded our use of telehealth for many appointments, we are still safely seeing patients in person as needed.
What will my visit look like?
Whenever possible, we will reduce physical and face-to-face interactions. That means you may be asked to provide insurance or copayment information on the phone before your appointment. It also means that you may be offered a telehealth visit instead of an in-person visit.
Your provider’s office will guide you through your options and steps.
How do I check in for my appointment?
Depending on your situation, you might have a virtual check-in, you might wait in your car, or you might sit in a waiting room. Often, we can escort you directly to the exam room and skip the waiting room altogether.
How do waiting rooms look different?
- Windows or plexiglass barriers have been installed at registration desks
- No magazines or pamphlets
- Reduced seating
- Everyone is required to wear a mask
See below for more about our safety procedures including cleaning, screening, and safe distancing.
Testing
You can find a testing location near your zipcode by searching on Mass.Gov. At Baystate Health, we offer testing for COVID-19 by referral and appointment only—please do not walk into our locations to be tested if you do not have an appointment.
See where and how to get tested
Vaccine