Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our new “normal” habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.
Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you have and will see this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.
You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:
- Our office will communicate with you ahead of your appointment to ask some screening questions. Those same questions will be reviewed again when you are at the office.
- Once in the parking lot, call our office and we will let you know if you should come upstairs.
- We request that all patients arrive wearing a mask, as PPE shortages prohibit us from providing additional masks beyond those necessary for our staff. Bringing your own pen will also help minimize the spread of germs.
- You will be required to hand sanitize at the point of entry to our office, which will be provided.
- Once upstairs, a staff member will take your temperature. A person with a temperature of less than 100.4 will be permitted to stay. Otherwise, you will be recommended to visit your primary care for an evaluation.
- We will be practicing social distancing in our reception area (and a second reception area added downstairs) to minimize the number of people at any given time. In addition, all reading materials, as well as our refreshment station, have been temporarily removed.
- To minimize patient time in our office during checkout, we will be collecting your copayment electronically when we call to confirm your appointment.
- Have you had a fever in the last 14 days?
- Are you short of breath or having any breathing difficulties?
- Do you have a cough?
- Do you have flu-like symptoms such as gastrointestinal upset, headache, or fatigue?
- Have you experienced a recent loss of taste or smell?
- Are you in contact with any confirmed COVID-19 positive patients?
- Do you have heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or any auto-immune disorders?
- Have you traveled in the past 14 days?
We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at 978-306-4459 or fill out the online appointment request form.
Sincerely,