When patients come to UnityPoint Clinic — Second Avenue North for respiratory services related to COVID-19 or otherwise, they are completely isolated from other services in the building, according to Dena Sheffield, clinic administrator.

And that starts with where respiratory patients enter the facility, located at 1428 Second Ave. N.

“We are using an entrance on the south side of the building,” Sheffield said. “It’s normally not an entrance, but that way patients won’t be exposed to any other part of the clinic.”

Respiratory patients are asked to stay in their vehicles when they arrive in the west parking lot.

“We are asking that they sit in their cars and a staff member will come out to greet them,” Sheffield said. “The staff will be masked.”

Sheffield, who has over five years of experience working for UnityPoint, said a mask will also be given to the patient before they come inside the clinic.

The respiratory clinic opened March 23. UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine — Second Avenue North is located in the same facility. Medical Arts EyeCare also provides services there.

But Sheffield emphasized that there is no shared spaces between the different services.

“There’s no community hallways,” Sheffield said. “Eye clinic patients will not be commingled with our normal patients.”

The Second Avenue North site was chosen for the Respiratory Illness Clinic because of its convenient location and potential for creative ways to test patients. Because it’s an off-campus location, it helps to limit visitors to the hospital.

Sheffield, a native of Emmetsburg, said it’s advised that patients come to the clinic by themselves.

“We ask the patients just come in themselves and then they are escorted directly into a room,” Sheffield said. “So they won’t be in any part of the well side of the clinic. So that way if we have to see any other patients, they are completely removed from the respiratory illness side.”

Patients are then escorted out using a designated exit.

Six exam rooms are available at the clinic. It is staffed by two full-time providers and their support staff.

Sheffield, who holds a master’s degree in health care administration from Des Moines University, said the safety of patients remains a top priority.

“If our patients, our current patients of family medicine, if they have to come in for an appointment for respiratory illness, they will be safe,” Sheffield said. “They will be isolated from that other clinic. We have it partitioned off, they won’t be taken near there. They don’t have to worry about an exposure.

“We are taking all the precautions, using proper protective equipment for staff and patients, sanitizing,” Sheffield said. “It wouldn’t be any different than going to any other clinic at this time.”

Patients are asked to call 515-574-6110 to schedule an appointment. All patients, whether family medicine or respiratory, are asked to call in advance before coming to the facility.

“Because of those safety and precautionary measures, we are going to triage those patients to see if it’s something they can manage at home first,” Sheffield said.

The respiratory clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.