05/13/2020
Enhanced Safety Procedures during Covid-19 Pandemic
Blankenship Dental Care
May 11, 2020
To our patients:
During these times of unprecedented uncertainty in the world, related to the Covid-19 pandemic, you will notice things being different when you present for an appointment with us.
First, we will conduct a brief medical status update on the phone when you are called to confirm your appointment. If you have any symptoms consistent with Covid-19, (such as fever, aches and pains, cough, chest pain, or loss of sense of smell/taste) or if you have been in contact with someone who may be infected or traveled to a known hotspot, you will be advised to contact your medical office for instructions on possible testing. Our appointment will be postponed until you are cleared.
Next, you will present to the office and call to let us know you are in the parking lot. You will wear your own mask (we have a limited supply and cannot provide masks for patients at this time) and a staff member will meet you at the door in appropriate PPE to do a temperature exam. If you are 100.0 or less, you will be admitted to the office and taken directly to your treatment room. Please do not bring others with you unless needed for assistance or as a parent with a small child, and touch as few surfaces as possible. As the staff will be doing, please wear your mask at all times, other than when you are actually being treated.
Once in the treatment room, be advised that all surfaces have been disinfected and/or freshly draped since the last patient. Instruments are appropriately sterilized or disposed of between patients, as is normal.
Depending on the procedure, the staff will wear appropriate PPE during your procedure. If no aerosol is expected, our typical mask/gloves/smock/glasses will be used. If an aerosol is expected, as with the polishing phase of a cleaning or during a procedure such as a filling or crown, etc. the staff will use PPE including KN95 mask, over mask, face shield, long gown (which is washed or disposed of appropriately).
Checkout will be done as possible before you leave the treatment room and we will observe social distancing in the hallways. You will notice the newly added cough shield at the checkout counter. If you need to sign something, we will provide a clean pen for you to use and keep. Understand that areas such as door handles/pulls, etc. are disinfected often during the day, as well as first thing each morning.
Please understand that our practice and staff is doing everything reasonable to protect you and ourselves during these difficult times. Each of us is temperature screened on arrival to the office, as are patients, and would be sent home if there were any detectable concerns. With us all working together, we will get through this. “Normal“, however, may never be quite the same.
If you have any questions regarding our efforts to keep your visit comfortable and safe, please call 919-563-4300.
