05/05/2020
Dear Patients,
We hope this post finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same—our commitment to your safety.
We are happy to announce that on May, 21, 2020, our office will officially reopen and we will resume routine dental practice. Infection control has always been a top priority for our us. Our infection control processes are designed so that when you receive care, it is both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the updated infection control procedures we will be following.
You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment, and many things will be different. We made these changes to help protect both you and our staff. Many of these new processes are outlined below:
• Our office will communicate with you beforehand to confirm your appointment, verbally, on the phone. All appointments must be confirmed directly with one of our receptionists, as there is going to be a lot of preparation and coordination that goes into creating each and every appointment.
• We ask that you please wear your own mask, or face coverings, to our office.
• Our waiting room will remain closed as we will be adopting a “curbside check in” procedure. When you arrive at the office at the time of your appointment, we ask that you call to check in and remain in your vehicle until one of our staff members comes outside to greet you. We also ask that patients arrive alone to their appointments, as only the patient being seen will be admitted.
• You’ll be asked a series of screening questions when you arrive at the office, on the day of your appointment, and your temperature will be taken before going upstairs.
• Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients, and to minimize patient occupancy at our office. That might mean that you may have fewer options for scheduling your appointment as there will be fewer time slots per day.
• The doctors, hygienists, and assistants will look a little different. We will have a level of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) that you may not be used to seeing at the dental office —masks, face shields, hair coverings. This equipment is being used to protect you and to protect us. We will be doing everything we can to avoid treating patients with COVID-19 in our office, but are also taking every necessary precaution to prevent transmission from an asymptomatic carrier.
We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we are taking to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice.
If you are having an urgent dental need, call our office at 203-466-2273, and our receptionists will be available to take your calls beginning on Monday, 5/11/2020.
Our modified office hours are listed below. Please note, the office will be closed Wednesdays to allow for more thorough commercial disinfection procedures.
Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming you back!
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Vandlik, Dr. Sara Furino, & Team
New Hours effective 5/20/20:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8:00am- 5:00pm
Friday 8:00am-12:00pm
