03/16/2020
UPDATE TO OUR OFFICE PROTOCOLS
UPDATE TO UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS FOR OUR OFFICE.
As new information becomes available, we will update this protocol!
We keep our office clean and sterile, and we have increased our overall efforts to minimize the spread of COVID-19, or anything for that matter.
“Control of what comes into the office allows us to control what goes out.” HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES TO MINIMIZE CONTAMINATION
EVERY TEAM MEMBER MUST HAVE TEMPERATURE TAKEN WHEN THEY ARRIVE, BEFORE THEY COME TO THE BACK. WE WILL KEEP A LOG OF EVERY EMPLOYEE TEMPERATURE AT THE FRONT FOR PATIENTS TO SEE SO THEY FEEL SAFE THAT WE ARE HEALTHY!
MINIMIZE OVERLAPPING OF PATIENTS TO REDUCE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE AT THE SAME TIME. REQUEST ALL OUR PATIENTS NOT BRING ANY FRIENDS/FAMILY MEMBERS TO APPOINTMENTS.
NO HANDSHAKING.
MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO REASSURE OUR PATIENTS THAT THEIR HEALTH AND OUR HEALTH IS WHAT IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE.
1. GREETING PROTOCOL
a. Initially, Patients enter the office and are asked to take a seat.
b. They are greeted by one of our team, who checks their temperature.
c. If elevated, send them home immediately and Note Patient’s Chart, if not, they are
walked directly to their operatory, UNLESS THEY HAVE PAIN (remember elevated
temperature can occur when a patient has some kind of bacterial infection).
d. If seated in the reception, the patient must be asked to take a disinfectant wipe and
wipe their seat down in the waiting room when they are taken back to the operatory.
e. Sign on Inner Door that asks them not to enter.
i. If they need to go to the bathroom, office coordinator will open the door for them and direct them to the bathroom.
f. When they are called in, assistant or hygienist must open the door and direct them to their operatories.
g. WHEN/ IF we get to the NEXT THREAT LEVEL Patients are asked to text/call when they arrive and wait outside the office, in their cars, or outside.
i. We text them when we are ready for them.
ii. Greet them at the door and take their temperatures.
2. OPERATORY PROTOCOL
a. LIMITED ITEMS ON COUNTERS
i. EVERYTHING must be inside drawers or Cabinets
ii. Keyboard, mouse put away
iii. Only thing out, should be the procedure instruments on a bagged tray.
b. UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS FOR REMAINDER OF OPERATORY SETUP
c. When a patient arrives, have them place their items in a designated place.
d. Have Patient WASH HANDS with SOAP AND WATER or HAND SANITIZER
e. Have patient sit and then swish CHLORHEXIDINE for 60 seconds.
i. NO SPITTING INTO SINK ONLY INTO SALIVA EJECTOR.
ii. Continue with Procedures.
f. Once completed procedure, walkout completed procedures for Front desk.
g. Initiate TOUCHLESS PAYMENTS - TEXT TO PAY for any Balances before appointment or
post appointment.
h. Try to resist cash payments.
i. If receive Cash, use GLOVES – and place cash in ZIPLOCK BAG.
j. Patient is walked out ALL THE WAY OUR OF OFFICE and advised not to touch anything.
3. HYGIENE PROTOCOL
a. Limit ULTRASONIC/ CAVITRON usage.
b. HAND SCALE Patients.
c. Adjust the schedule based on the time you need for the patient.
d. IF YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO USE ULTRASONIC, then HVE tip HAS to be used
e. Work together if you need an ASSISTANT for suction.
4. DOCTOR PROTOCOL
a. Isolite MUST be used for EVERY procedure that requires a handpiece.
b. Decrease Air and Water flow on units.
c. Assistants must focus on evacuation and not instrumentation.
i. Usage of more dry shields and cotton rolls and 2x2.
d. ELECTIVE procedures (Implant placements, Invisalign, cosmetic procedures, whitening
etc. should be rescheduled for a later time.
e. Impressions,
i. if take impressions with VPS – sterilize and place in Bag.
ii. Intraoral Digital Impression is the best way. USE ISOLITE.
iii. Sterilization protocol for Digital capture.
5. POST PATIENT PROTOCOLS
a. Flip Headrest cover inside out.
b. Fill Headrests with all disposables, tie up and bring back to Sterilization.
c. Wipe down all surfaces, cabinets, monitors, chairs etc.
d. Take Trash to Sterilization area.
e. Remove and dispose gloves – Wash Hands with Soap and Water/ Hand Sanitize.
f. Set up Room for Next Patient.
6. FRONT DESK PROTOCOL
a. Stick to your own computers and Specific phones.
b. USE GLOVES while on your computers and phones.
c. iPad’s
i. LIMIT Patient usage.
ii. Have Patients fill out necessary paperwork/info online before they come in.
iii. Patients must Hand Sanitize before use
iv. WIPE WITH Electronic SANITIZERS post usage.
d. Absolutely Nothing on counters.
e. Stick to only 1 pen each – All others put away.
f. If patients need medications – CALL IT IN, unless NARCOTICS
7. RESTROOM PROTOCOL
a. PATIENT RESTROOM.
i. Patients Only
ii. Patients may wipe down any surfaces
iii. Team Member to follow after Patient leaves to do secondary Wipe Down of
Sink, Faucet, Toilet Seat and handles.
b. TEAM RESTROOM
i. Team Members Only
ii. Wipe Down all surfaces and Handles after use.
iii. Wash Hands thoroughly with Soap and Water.
8. END OF DAY
a. Remove all trash from operatories.
b. Add to collected Sterilization trash.
c. 1 person to take and dispose at AS Trash – We can do TWICE A DAY
d. Counters and Sinks to be wiped and sterilized
e. Cabinets and Trash Holes to be Sterilized.
f. New Bags in Trash receptacles.
g. All Surfaces Wiped and Countertops wiped down again.
