April 29, 2020
Greetings from Dr. Ray and everyone at Canyon State Oral & Dental Implant Surgery (CSOS). In early March we outlined plans to mitigate COVID-19 transmission, while still treating patients. The design was based on the most up-to-date and current CDC guidelines, prior to the governor’s executive order to close our doors to elective surgeries. Can you believe it’s only been a month since all that happened?
With the White House developing “Guidelines for Opening Up America Again,” CMS providing guidance to “outpatient/non-COVID care zones,” and Governor Ducey’s announcement opening non-emergent surgeries on May 1st, we anticipate opportunities to more adequately care for our community. I am confident any strategy implemented in Arizona will satisfy the gating criteria and phased implementation developed by the national health care experts.
CSOS will be accommodating staff and patients in the following manner beginning May 1, 2020. Our goal is to continue the mitigation practices implemented by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “universal source control,” and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
We thank you for your patience during this time of uncertainty. Your health and well-being are our top priority and we will continue to take the following precautions as we provide patient care
PATIENTS:
To minimize in-office time, all patient registration paperwork should be completed online prior to coming to the office. (Few exceptions will be allowed.)
Any patient exhibiting fever,cough, shortness of breath, runny nose will have their appointment rescheduled
We request all individuals coming into the office to utilize their own facemask
CSOS will take the temperature of every person entering the office.
WAITING AREA:
We will limit the number of people allowed in the waiting room at a time. This is to adhere to the 6-foot social distancing guideline set by the CDC.
Hand sanitizer will be provided.
Staff will be cleaning chairs, the general waiting area, and the bathroom routinely.
Please bring your own reading material. There will be no reading material in the waiting area.
Absolutely no food is permitted.
APPOINTMENTS:
Whether it be a surgical procedure or a surgical consultation we request only necessary individuals be present.
If the patient is an adult, please have them come alone. Please have others wait in the car or outside.
We ask that if you are waiting outside that you continue to adhere to the 6 feet of distance from other people waiting.
If the patient is a minor, only one escort will be allowed. All others must wait in the car or outside.
Surgical and consultative appointments will be staggered to minimize the number of individuals in the waiting and surgical area.
After every appointments, all equipment and areas will be properly wiped down and cleaned as per normal surgical protocol.
STAFF/DOCTOR:
Temperatures and COVID-19 exposure intake forms will be completed by the entire staff daily.
Any staff feeling ill or shows signs or symptoms of illness will stay home.
CMS and CDC universal source guidelines will be followed by all staff.
Wearing masks in non-treatment and treatment areas.
Regular hand washing and sanitizing
If any staff member that comes in contact with a COVID-19 positive person, or is being tested for COVID-19, will self-quarantine for a minimum of two weeks and will not return to work without a note from their doctor.
GENERAL GUIDELINES:
As this is an adjustment period for us all, CSOS thanks you again for your patience and understanding during this time. Furthermore, in order to ease the transition, the following will also be available, on more limited opportunities:
If patient registration paperwork cannot be accomplished online, other arrangements are possible.
If needed, another individual can phone into a consultation via speakerphone or Facetime to listen and ask questions.
If an additional explanation of financial obligations, insurance, or options is needed, a follow-up phone call can be available.
Limited telemedicine consults are available for those vulnerable individuals that are still practicing “stay-in-place” guidelines.
Canyon State Oral & Dental Implant Surgery applauds the State of Arizona and the efforts of every business and individual. The practices of “social distancing,” “stay-in-place,” “self-quarantine,” and responsible use of critical materials is the sole reason Arizona has not seen the disastrous effects of COVID-19 as reported in other areas.
However, no single entity has been more critical in this full-on assault against COVID-19 than our health care workers. To the real people on the front lines of this disease, all hospital personnel, every medical office, emergency room personnel, physicians, nurses, researchers, and my fellow dental colleagues, THANK YOU!