Though I am fully vaccinated and boosted, there is still inherent risk involved with my work. Every time a patient comes in to see me, we are both taking a risk. We’re each trusting the other has been double masking, hand washing, socially distancing, staying at home whenever possible, keeping to their social bubble, and most of all, hoping they are COVID-negative. We’re also hopeful the people we’ve encountered daily in stores, at work, and on the street have been playing it safe.
Let’s all do our part to take care of ourselves, each other, and our community.
My Clinic’s Safety Practices
I’m doing my best to provide a safe office environment for patients and myself:
- Constant protective gear: I wear two masks and a face shield while at the clinic. By the way, a face shield is never a substitute for an appropriately fitting face mask. Note that medical professionals are wearing masks under their face shield.
- Improved air flow: I’ve upgraded my HVAC system, invested in high efficiency air-filtration/exchange units for every room in the clinic. I open my sliding glass doors between patients to allow for even greater air exchange.
- Intensive cleaning: I clean each room and all high touch surfaces after every treatment. The bathroom is sanitized daily.
- Hand washing/sanitizing: I wash my hands repeatedly before, during, and after treatments, as well as use hand sanitizer between washes.
Out of an abundance of caution, though fully vaccinated, my only mask-free, non-distanced interactions are with my husband. Other than that, my entire “risk budget” is spent seeing my patients. My social bubble is my husband. That’s appropriate!
Requirements for Receiving Care
- We must discuss your vaccination status before your visit.
- If it has been 5 months since you (or other family members) received your last Moderna or Pfizer vaccination, or 2 months since receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, NOW is the time to get boosted. Children ages 5 and up are now eligible to be vaccinated. The FDA authorized booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds and third primary dose/booster for certain immunocompromised children ages 5 to 11. Per the CDC, immunocompromised adults are eligible for a 4th vaccine dose.
- Please don’t delay. Find a vaccine or booster site, or rapid and PCR tests with this online tool.
- You must stay double-masked during your entire visit, with appropriate masks that you are responsible for bringing.
- Material: Cloth masks are not enough! Your first layer should be a KN95 mask, well-fitting N95 mask, or at the bare minimum, a surgical mask that has an adjustable bridge/nose piece. Your second layer should be either a hospital-style ear-loop mask or reusable fabric. Read more about N95 and KN95 masks and where to get them.
- Fit: Your masks should fit snugly over your face and will stay in place during appointments. They should cover both your nose and mouth comfortably and securely, and require minimal adjustment if any. If you have to constantly push them back in place, it is not protecting you or me. Here’s a guide to assist you with mask fitting.
Protocols for Visiting the Clinic
- Upon arriving at the clinic, please remain in your car and TEXT me that you have arrived. Do NOT call me if you have the ability to text. I am in protective gear that remains in place my entire work day, and do not want to have to remove it to answer a phone communication that can be done by text. As soon as I am available, I will respond with a text to let you know when it is safe to come in.
- You must have your double masks in place BEFORE entering the clinic. All patients must wear masks for the entire visit, including while they are on the table during treatment. It is unacceptable to pull your masks down under your nose and/or mouth at any time.
- Please disinfect your hands upon entry to the clinic and again when exiting. As you come in the front door, there is hand sanitizer to your left for your use. Please then wait at the bottom of the stairs for my go-ahead.
- Bring a printed and signed COVID-19 Informed Consent Form if you have not done so before.
- If you are a returning patient and this is your first time seeing me since the pandemic, you will be required to print out and sign a COVID-19 Informed Consent Form and bring it with you to your first appointment back with me. Download the form here.
- If you are a New Patient, you will be required to print out the entire set of New Patient paperwork which includes the COVID-19 Informed Consent form, and fill out completely ahead of time, and bring it with you to your first appointment with me. Download the new patient paperwork here.
- If you do not have the ability to print out New Patient Paperwork, please let me know in a timely manner so that I can mail all required paperwork to you with sufficient time before your first appointment.
- Please properly hydrate before coming inside. My waiting area remains closed, so there is no water or tea service at this time.
- I will take your temperature with a contactless, infrared thermometer and check your blood oxygen levels with a pulse oximeter on your fingertip. Additionally, I will ask you questions about your health status, potential exposure and your adherence to social distancing. If everything checks out fine, I will happily escort you into the treatment room.
- I have a contactless payment system for your safety. I am able to accept Apple Pay, Google Pay and other NFC types of payment. I still have the ability to swipe and dip, if you have a magnetic strip or chip card, but am trying for as contactless as possible.
I want to minimize risk as much as possible to you and all of my patients. Please DO NOT schedule if you have any of the following:
- Fever
- Cough
- Recent onset of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Pain or pressure in your chest
- Sore/scratchy throat
- Chills
- Nasal congestion, sneezing, or runny nose
- Recent onset of muscle pains
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Unusual skin changes including rashes
- Sudden loss of smell or taste
- Have been ignoring social distancing
- Have possibly been exposed
- Have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two weeks
Reminder: All Mitigation Efforts are Still Relevant, in My Clinic and Elsewhere
Since coronavirus isn’t going away anytime soon, the continued need for measures such as frequent hand-washing, social distancing and wearing masks in public — both indoors and some outdoor situations, and being aware of people’s health/vaccine status that you choose to be in contact with — continues to be paramount in order to help to slow the spread of the virus.
The layered approach (vaccine, booster, mask, social distancing, ventilation, testing) is crucial, especially in light of Omicron.
These procedures and protocols are legally and professionally required of me. It is my job to promote health as well as safe practices. It is my sincere hope that at some time in the future, some or all of these restrictions can be relaxed, but for now we all need to do our part.
In Summary
- Please be vaccinated and boosted.
- Please comply with my mask requirements and up-level your masking to meet the current Omicron situation and my clinic requirement.
- Please know all my mitigation strategies are still in place and my waiting area is closed.
- All masks must be securely in place before entering my clinic.
- Do not enter my clinic, unless I give you a text that it is okay for you to enter.
- Please be completely transparent about any symptoms, no matter how mild, and any possible exposures. Talk to me ahead of time by phone.
- Please understand because of the current Omicron situation, and potential future COVID issues, appointments may be subject to last minute cancellation for the safety of all.
- Please be completely transparent about travel and leisure activity.
- To help understand the invisible risk associated with spending time with people outside your household, here is a visual to communicate the unseen consequences of the social bubble — it’s bigger than you think!
- To help understand the invisible risk associated with spending time with people outside your household, here is a visual to communicate the unseen consequences of the social bubble — it’s bigger than you think!
For more information related to variants, risk factors, and more health-related questions, please see my blog posts:
- Update on Vaccinations and Mask Requirements (1/12/22)
- News about the Delta Variant in Oregon (8/18/21)
- Important Updates About Local Spread of COVID Variants (7/20/21)
- COVID-19 or Allergies? Answers to Your Questions (4/20/21)
- COVID-19 FAQS &Facts (3/28/21)
