DELTA PERIODONTAL GROUP
COVID-19 UPDATE
Reopening Message
To our valued patients,
The PHO (Provincial Health Officer) has advised we are allowed to go back to work as per the Phase II plan. In anticipation of this announcement, we have ordered necessary PPE (personal protective equipment) as well as made physical changes to our clinic.
As we open, urgent care will be priority but we will also be taking on surgical therapy, regular maintenance and hygiene once all systems are in place. The ‘New Normal’ means there will be a few changes you will need to know about. Anytime you have an appointment, we will remind you but we thought you should know a few important things beforehand:
Social distancing rules will be in effect. You must stay at least two metres (6 ft) away from any non-clinical staff or other patients.
You may not be allowed to enter unless you have an appointment and have been pre-screened. The doors will be closed and you will enter once we are ready for you. Please wait outside until we are ready for you.
You will be asked questions before your appointment and screened as you enter. If you are unwell (coughing, fever, sneezing, runny nose, etc.), at higher risk (contact with another person with COVID) or your temperature is higher than normal, you will be asked to stay away until an appropriate time.
You will be given hand sanitizer.
Unless required, you must come alone. The waiting room is minimized and only two chairs are available and they are placed more than two metres apart.
Once you are invited to enter, you will be escorted right into the treatment areas. You may find us a bit harder to understand as we will already be wearing our PPE unless we are able to stay more than 2 metres away.
While visiting our clinic, you will be asked to touch as few things as possible. All normal contact surfaces will be regularly disinfected.
The washroom is available for emergency use only and we ask you to disinfect the sink and toilet after use with a spray provided.
For our hygiene patients: unfortunately, given the constraints at this time, we may not be able to schedule you with your preferred hygienist. We will make every effort to do this; however, it is more important that we maintain your periodontal health
Starting June 1st, 2020, we plan to no longer receive insurance payments on our patient’s behalf. Handling insurance payments is a time-consuming administrative process. By having the insurance directly pay our patients (aka non-assignment) it will free up 20-25% of our receptionists’ time. They will now focus on their new responsibilities including patient screening, management, and clinic disinfection. This ensures the environment is safe for everyone. We will still process and submit the claim to your insurance for you but the insurance company will now reimburse you instead of reimbursing us. The cost of the completed treatment will need to be paid in full at the time of service. We will continue to predetermine insurance estimates for treatment and will be available to help you troubleshoot insurance claims if there are any issues. If you are experiencing any financial hardships, please reach out to us to discuss options.
As you can see, Phase II is all about working in an environment where there is no sign of the COVID virus. We are used to working under Universal Precautions and treating all situations as high risk. Any staff who is even mildly unwell or whose daily recorded temperature is above normal could result in your appointment being re-scheduled. Please forgive us for any inconvenience as we go forward in the ‘New Normal’.
We look forward to seeing you again.
Stay safe and healthy,
Dr. Andrea Lynch and staff at Delta Periodontal Group
Workplace Safety Plan
Risks:
Areas where people gather – waiting room, reception desk, staff room, dr. office, operatories
Jobs, tasks and process with close contact – greeting patients, treating patients, payment/rescheduling, eating lunch
Tools, machinery, equipment shared – pens, computers (keyboard/mouse), camera, radiographic gear
Surfaces – doorknobs, light switches, POS machine
Researched protocols to reduce risks:
Reviewed CDSBC infection control guidelines and CDCBC guidelines and WorkSafe guidelines, also Ministry of Health, PHO and BCDA
Discussed with staff
Control Measures:
1st level – Elimination
Staggered start and break times for staff
Staggered appointment times for patients
Limited the number of people in the staff room (maximum 2), reception (maximum 2), waiting room (maximum 2) and doctor’s office (maximum 2)
Limited the number of people who can accompany patients to 1 and only if elderly, a child, disabled or ESL
2nd level – Engineering
Installed glass barrier around reception area
Included barrier cleaning in protocols
Arranged furniture to section specific areas in waiting room
Front door is locked and only opened as required after screening
Throughout office HEPA filters are placed in rooms in addition to HVAC
Checked HVAC filter maintenance (with landlord) and increased frequency and filter replacement
3rd level – administrative
Staff completed training on screening patients (high and low risk), transmission of covid, need for physical distancing and appropriate PPE, choice and use of PPE (hands-on training)
Added to and reinforced cleaning and sterilization protocols
4th level – masks
Workers were trained in selection and use of masks with hands-on sessions
Cleaning
There is an organization and schedule for cleaning:
Delegation: CDAs (kitchen, waiting room, bathroom, halls, operatories, sterilization room), hygienists (own operatories), receptionist (reception area) and dentist (office) all responsible for cleaning
Frequency:
Operatories – after every patient
Waiting room and bathroom – 2-3 times a day
Reception/kitchen/office – 1 time a day
Masks
All staff will wear masks when needed
Tasks with reduced physical distance and where aerosols are produced will require staff to wear masks
Clinical staff have had N95 fit testing
Policy Development
Staff monitoring
Patient screening
Visitor limitation policy
Hygiene policies
Communication Plan
Posted signage – effective hygiene and restricted entry