Entrance Screening
Screening stations are located at all our buildings near the entrances, and the path to the screening station is clearly marked or cordoned off so people are directed to the screeners immediately upon entering the building. Screening stations are staffed throughout the buildings’ working hours.
We have limited the open entrances to only those that can be monitored.
Screeners ask questions (standardized at all clinical locations and based on latest CDC recommendations) pertaining to possible COVID-19 symptoms or contacts, and the person’s temperature will be taken.
If a person answers “yes” to any of the questions or has a fever they are not allowed to enter the building and are instructed to contact their physician for guidance.
Universal Masking
All people in our buildings are always masked - unless the mask has been removed as required for the examination and only within the exam room.
Patients are advised to bring their own masks at the time of the appointment reminder calls. If a patient appears without a mask, one will be provided.
All our providers and staff are provided with masks with replaceable filters. Masks with a greater level of protection, such as N95s or half-face respirators (HFR), are used by providers and staff in high-risk areas and while performing procedures that require them.
Maintaining Social Distancing
Although universal masking diminishes the need for strict six-foot separation, every effort has been made to keep people from crowding or congregating.
All areas where people may wait in line have been marked to maintain six feet of separation.
Waiting rooms have been reconfigured to minimize the number of patients waiting in them, and most chairs have been either turned toward the wall or windows, or the chairs cordoned off.
Clinical workflows and schedules have been modified to decrease the number of face-to-face patients visits in any one time.
The use of video visits also decreases the number of face-to-face visits.
Whenever possible, and if the electronic health record permits, patients are encouraged to “check-in” online before their scheduled appointment, including review of their medical history and medications, as well as online payment of their copays and deductibles.
This will decrease the number of patients at the check-in/out desks.
Personal Hygiene
Hand sanitizer dispensers are located throughout our facilities for the use by our patients, staff and providers. Signs have been posted to remind everyone to wash their hands. All staff and providers sanitize their hands before and after every patient encounter.
Elevators
In buildings such as the Medical Arts & Research Center, elevators are critical for the efficient movement of patients to the practices located on different floors.
Although the use of the stairs is encouraged, some patients, staff and providers cannot climb the stairs.
With masking, the need for six feet of separation is not critical, nevertheless, we make every effort to avoid crowding in the elevators.
A “greeter” has been positioned to ensure the elevators are not overcrowded.
Limiting Visitors
To greatly minimize the number of people coming into the clinical buildings, patients may not bring “visitors” with them to their appointments unless medically necessary.
These exceptions include patients who need someone to drive them home after a procedure, or the patient who requires assistance due to a cognitive or physical impairment.
If the visit will include discussions of a sensitive nature (e.g., serious diagnosis or a surgical procedure) and you would appreciate a family member or another person present, please consider arranging before the visit for that individual to be available via phone or video chat at the time of the appointment.
If you plan to bring a visitor with you to your appointment, you must alert your doctor’s office so that your visitor’s name can be added to the list of visitors for that day.
Surface Cleaning
All hard surfaces in common areas are sanitized twice during the day, and all other “high touch” surfaces such as elevator buttons are cleaned frequently.
Exam rooms are thoroughly sanitized after every patient.