Training and Educating Our Team
One of the most important things we can do is train and educate our staff.
- We have participated in discussions, webinars and practiced training in the appropriate use of PPE (personal protective gear) prior to caring for patients to prevent contamination.
- We have reviewed sterile techniques such as proper hand washing as it is one of the most important things we can do to prevent the spread of the virus.
- Staff that are unwell are to stay at home and follow AHS guidelines for returning to work.
- Every staff member and dentist will take their temperature and go through the screening checklist at the beginning of each day and we will send home anyone with any concerning signs.
- Limit the numbers of staff providing their care to facilitate social distancing within the office and amongst team members
- We have created a specific checklist of recommendations to our team so that they arrive to work healthy and go home to their families without worry.
Recommendations for Our Team
- Health self assessment before coming to work (call in sick instead of coming in to work)
- Tie hair up, keep nails short
- Avoid extra accessories
- Change into top/leggings and tunic at work. These clothes will remain at work and be laundered after each shift. Work shoes to be either disinfectable or covered with disposable shoe covers.
- Use PPE as appropriate.
- During the course of the day, wipe down phones, computers etc. to prevent cross contamination.
- After changing at the end of the day and before leaving, wash hands and bare arms again.
- Upon returning home, remove clothes to launder and shower before interacting with others.
Patient Interviews and Social Distancing
- Before patient arrival, filter patients using recommended screening checklists and scripts to recognize potential carriers.
- Reschedule patients who show signs of a cough or fever or who may describe warning signs
- Prioritize high risk patients (immune compromised, over 60 y.o. etc.) with appointments early in the day to minimize contact with others.
- When booking patients, spread out the schedule so there are less people in the waiting room and office at a time.
- 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. (unless a parent or legal guardian)
- Utilizing a “virtual” waiting room: It is preferred that patients will wait in their car or outside the office where they can be contacted by mobile phone when it is their turn to be treated.
- Cloth masks in the waiting room for those who are seated. (some available for in office use if you do not have one)
Safety Measures Taken Upon Arrival
- Leave doors open as much as possible so as to avoid contact with door handles
- Post visual alerts reminding patients of precautions.
- Hand sanitizer placed at the front desk to be used by patients immediately upon entry. Tissues available with a garbage in the same area.
- Health screening and temperature check.
- Before treatment, patients are asked to rinse with a 1% hydrogen peroxide solution.
- Magazines and clutter removed from waiting room to prevent cross contamination
- Frequent wipe down of waiting room, bathroom, door handles, desk, etc.
Front Desk
- Install physical barriers to limit close contact between front desk personnel and patients
- Encourage payment by credit card/ tap technology or E-transfer to encourage social distancing with front desk
Clinical Team Protocols
We adhere to usual standard and transmission-based precautions in the operatory but with greater attention to detail and ensure that procedures are followed consistently and correctly.
- Hand hygiene before and after all patient contact. Before putting on and after taking off PPE.
- Wearing PPE appropriately (masks, gloves, cap, eye protection, face shields, gowns as needed)N95 or surgical mask and face shield worn when using aerosols.
- Eye protection and mask donned prior to entry to operatory. Wash hands and glove in the room.
- PPE removed and changed during treatment if heavily soiled or torn.
- Isolation gowns used when performing aerosol generating procedures or when splashes or sprays are anticipated. Donned before entering the room.
- Special precautions taken when performing aerosol generating procedures. High volume suction always used.
- Shoe covers used unless staff is wearing disinfectable shoes.
- Limit transfer and movement of patients outside the room as much as possible.
- Limit staff in treatment rooms to those engaged in treatment.
- Once the patient has left the operatory, HCP will utilize HOCl fogging of operatories to remove potentially infectious particles when aerosols have been created. The room will then undergo thorough appropriate cleaning and surface disinfection before it is returned to use.
As you finish
- Receipts can be emailed to you if preferred.
- Please wash your hands with hand sanitizer before leaving the office.
- Review of estimates, insurance forms, treatment plans can be carried out via phone call or video conferencing and sent via email.
We are confident that these guidelines will help to create a safe environment for all of our patients and team members and hope that you can feel secure in the knowledge that we are doing everything we can to provide the safest clinical conditions in order to protect our patients, team members, and families.
