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COVID-19 Update

We partner with the Dental Surgery Center of DC to provide care in an AAAHC accredited healthcare facility.  Please see below the Dental Surgery Center of DC's policies to address COVID-19.

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Dear Patient,                                                                                                          December 9, 2020

 

At the Dental Surgery Center of DC, patient health and safety is our number one priority.  We are doing everything we can to ensure that you and your family stay safe during this time of uncertainty.

 

Our standard procedures include:

·       Wipe down all surfaces and all equipment in patient treatment areas with hospital-grade disinfectant cleaning solution before each patient is treated

·       Each patient’s anesthesia breathing circuit has a filter that filters out 95% >= of viral and bacterial particles

·       Sterilize all equipment that will be used in the facility before each use

·       Each healthcare provider uses a new surgical facemask and personal protective equipment (i.e. gowns, gloves) for each patient 

·       No patient who has been sick within the last 6 weeks will be treated

·       No staff member who is or may be sick is allowed to come to work 

·       All staff members are required to wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds whenever they put on or remove gloves

·       We use isolite isolation systems with suctioning capabilities to prevent the escape of aerosolized

In addition to our standard procedures, we are implementing the following policies to prepare for COVID-19:

·       Postponing elective procedures, performing urgent cases only

  • Following ADA[1] and MSDA, MDH[2] guidelines, we will not be doing elective treatments, and will only treat urgent cases (please speak with your doctor if you have any questions about this)

  • The patient and dental surgeon must confirm and sign a document confirming that they understand the potential for complications related to COVID-19 and that case is urgent

·       We have installed an aerosol extractor to vacuum out potential aerosols during treatment

·       Patients who have been exposed to COVID-19 or who have one of the following symptoms will be asked to postpone treatment (and may be asked for evidence of a negative COVID-19 test)

  • Shortness of breath or trouble breathing

  • Cough

  • Fever or chills

  • New fatigue

  • Muscle or body aches

  • New or unusual headache

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • * Note that This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19[3]

 

·       Avoiding Contamination Risk 

  • We disinfect all door handles and sink faucets at the beginning of each day and each hour[5]

  • All staff members wear N95 or KN95 masks with a surgical mask over the N95 or KN95 masks

 

·       Waiting spaces

  • We will lock the front doors to the office to prevent uncontrolled foot traffic

  • We will take the temperature of everyone entering the building (including staff, patients, deliveries, servicepeople, etc)

  • Patients and their families awaiting treatment will wait in their cars.  Families will wait in the car while waiting for surgery to be completed, and will be admitted to the PACU when the patient is waking up

  • We disinfect all surfaces in the waiting room at the beginning of each day and between each patient and their family[6]

  • We request patients and their families respectfully maintain social distancing of 6+ feet from other patients and their families at all times

  • We request that patients come with one responsible adult, and no additional parents, guardians or family members

  • We have removed all toys / magazines / books from our waiting room to ensure there is no cross-contamination from one patient to another[7]

 

·       Patient Health Status

  • Any patient who has a fever, sore throat, a cough or respiratory symptoms will be asked to reschedule their appointment

    • We will ask the patient in a pre-op phone call and once they arrive at the facility

    • We will take the temperature of everyone (staff, patients, family members, and service providers) as soon as they enter the facility, and anyone who has a fever of 100 degrees or higher will be kindly asked to not enter the facility (including staff members)[1]

  • We will postpone treatment for any patient who has a family member who has been sick within the last 30 days

  • Any patient who wishes to postpone treatment may make an appointment at another time in the future

  • Any patient who has traveled or has a family member who has traveled via airplane within 14 days will have their treatment postponed[9]

  • To preserve patient and staff health and safety, we reserve the right to postpone treatment for any patient for any reason or no reason at all

  • Any patient who has been exposed to COVID-19 in the facility will be notified of COVID-19 exposure in accordance with state and federal guidelines[10]

 

·       Staff Health Status

  • All staff and doctors who have traveled outside the US will wait at least 14 days before coming to work[11]

  • All staff members have their temperature taken when entering the building.  Anyone who has a fever or a cough will be sent home.

  • Staff who have been exposed to COVID-19 will be required to self quarantine and obtain a test before returning to work

 

  • General

    • We are posting these guidelines on our website and on our front door

    • We will return to normal operations and scale back COVID-19 related policies as the Maryland Department of Health indicates that the pandemic risk has decreased and allows for normal operations in healthcare facilities. Specifically, we expect this to happen as new case volume, deaths, and hospitalizations connected to COVID-19 have decreased

    • We will also look to and follow CDC guidelines

    • We will require all staff to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine once it is practical to do so

 

We thank you for your understanding of these policies as we take appropriate measures to ensure that each patient receives the best, safest care possible.

 

Regards, 

 

The Dental Surgery Center of DC

 

[1] https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2020-archive/march/ada-recommending-dentists-postpone-elective-procedures

[2] https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/Documents/2020.11.10.04_MDH_COVID-19_Clinician_Letter.pdf

[3] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

[4] https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2020-archive/march/ada-adds-frequently-asked-questions-from-dentists-to-coronavirus-resources

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10]

[11] Ibid.

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