05/14/2020
Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. The state will be issuing continued guidance in the coming days for reopening. 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. It allows us to keep you 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. We do this to make sure that our infection control procedures are current and adhere to each agencies’ recommendations.
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 be communicating with you before your appointment to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you arrive at the office.
• You will have your temperature taken with a scan thermometer and be asked to use hand sanitizer before you enter the office for your appointment.
• You may see our waiting room will no longer have magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
• Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean you are offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
• We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting time for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.
• We ask that only the patient come in to the office for the appointment and that other family or support persons stay in the car or outside.
• We will be using additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during your appointment. There will be a nominal fee of $10.00 per appointment to help offset the cost of the additional PPE being used. Many insurance companies are covering this fee, however, it may be the patient’s responsibility if it is not.
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. Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back all of our patients, neighbors and friends!
Dr. Gomes, Dr. Bartek and Team
