WHEN YOUR OFFICE REOPENS: RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES
Consider the following procedures that have been implemented by some AAO members:
· Communicate explicitly with patients: Don’t assume that patients and parents know the substantial efforts put forth by your team to prevent the spread of infections – both routinely and with any added processes since the coronavirus emerged. Provide reassurance by including a brief overview of your sterilization and sanitation procedures.
· Many AAO members are using social media posts and emails to let patients and parents know that their offices are open as well as to outline any changes in procedures, if applicable (see below).
· Stagger the scheduling of patients so that it will be possible to keep them six feet apart. Adjacent dental chairs should be assessed for the six-foot minimum when seating patients as well. Ask patients to brush their teeth before coming to their appointments so as to minimize contamination via the toothbrushing station.
· Pre-screen patients for symptoms and exposure. This may best be done by contacting patients and parents the evening before their scheduled appointments, via phone or email, asking them the following questions and indicating that a response is required in order to secure their appointment time
· Have you recently participated in any large gatherings (of more than 50 attendees) or gatherings of people you didn’t know?
· Have you or a member of your household traveled outside the United States within the last 14 days?
· Have you or an immediate family member been sick or had a fever within the last 14 days? Patients answering “yes” to any of these questions should be re-scheduled. One exception may be elementary and high school students whose schools are not closed and who have attended classes.
· Consider adjusting the patient check-in process so as to keep your waiting room traffic to an absolute minimum. Approaches to consider:
· Patients check-in via text from their cars, or staff could visit their vehicles to check them in. Patients are then called into the office via text when the team is ready for them.
· Restrict who can enter your office. Regardless of the check-in system utilized, establish that adult patients and teens are to enter the office alone; only children are to be accompanied by one adult.
· Put away items that may be accessed in your waiting area and potentially contaminated, such as magazines, pens, coffee/tea stations or toys.
· Don’t overlook delivery personnel. Consider using signage directing delivery personnel to call and inform your office of their arrival; further consider that they leave shipments outside for you and your team to collect. Ask key shippers if any required signatures can be collected electronically.
· Consider temporarily limiting the procedures done in your office. A key concern is avoiding production of AEROSOLS, given the potential that asymptomatic patients may have unknowingly been exposed to the coronavirus:
· Postpone debonding procedures;
· Avoid the use of a handpiece.