COVID-19 Protocol & Safety Measures
We’ve outlined our office protocols to assure you of the measures we are taking to protect the health and safety of our patients and staff.
Training and Educating Our Team
- One of the most important things we have done is educate and train our team.
- Our team has had refresher training in proper hand washing techniques. This may seem basic, but it is the most important thing we can do to prevent spread of the virus. Research shows that it is often not done well. Consequently, we have spent a lot of time ensuring that our team does it well and often, especially before and after every patient encounter.
- They are aware of how to use the proper PPE to prevent contamination.
- We encourage staff that is not feeling well to proactively stay home for two weeks (We have a backup team member if someone is ill).
Patient Interviews and Social Distancing Before Patient Arrival
- Every effort is made to filter patients during phone calls when scheduling appointments for care using established and recommended screening checklists and scripts.
- Reschedule patients who show any signs of a cough or fever.
- Instruct patients to call ahead and reschedule their appointment if they develop symptoms of a respiratory infection (e.g., cough, sore throat or fever) on the day they are scheduled to be seen.
- Promote social distancing.
- If a patient is being accompanied, their escort should wait in the car to limit the number of people in the waiting room and promote social distancing.
- Post visual alerts (e.g., signs, posters) at the entrance door advising patients of the COVID-19 risk and advising them not to enter the facility when ill.
- Provide supplies such as alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) with 60-95% alcohol, tissues and no-touch receptacles for disposal (at the entrance, in waiting rooms and at front desk).
Reception Room and Front Desk Safety Measures
- Air filtration units (with appropriate filtration, exchange rate, etc.)
Protocols of the Clinical Team
- Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Eye Protection
- Reusable eye protection (e.g., goggles) must be cleaned and disinfected according to manufacturer’s reprocessing instructions prior to re-use.
Gloves
- Put on clean, non-sterile gloves upon entry into the patient room or care area.
- Change gloves if they become torn or heavily contaminated.
- Remove and discard gloves when leaving the patient room or care area, and immediately perform hand hygiene.
Protocols After the Clinical Treatment
- All non-disposable medical equipment used for patient care should be cleaned and disinfected according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Ensure that environmental cleaning and disinfection procedures are followed consistently and correctly.
- Routine cleaning and disinfection procedures (e.g., using cleaners and water to pre-clean surfaces prior to applying an EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant to frequently touched surfaces or objects as indicated on the product’s label)