COVID-19 How do we handle Coronavirus and our patients?
Is it likely that a patient with any strain of the flu may come for dental treatment? Yes. That includes Coronavirus. Dental teams use proper sanitation procedures to prevent the spread of ANY infectious disease. Balancing the constant flood of information is important. Maintaining a sense of calm is important. Keeping the schedule running smoothly is very important. So let’s look at how we can manage all of this!
Be proactive with patient communication
Be proactive with communication
Be proactive with patient communications. Using your practice management software inform your patients of your policy in a newsletter or email. Tell your patient upfront to stay home if they have a fever or have been ill. Ask questions for risk assessment. This is the first line of protection for everyone.
Have you or someone in your household experienced any of the following within the past 72 hours?
- Cough
- Cold and flu like symptoms
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Pink eye
Have you recently travelled outside the United States?
If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, you should reschedule your appointment.
If you have travelled outside the United States OR been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, please wait 14 days before scheduling an appointment
Use social media for reassurance
Promoting your message via Social media
- Communicate the health and safety of your patient is always a top priority.
- Reassure them that you are closely monitoring the Coronavirus updates from the CDC and the ADA.
- Remind them that precautionary sanitization takes place before and after every patient.
- Invite the healthy patients to be confident of their safety as they come in to the office.
- Inform them that all working team members are healthy and ready to serve their needs.
Policy changes to consider
- Cancellation fees should be waived until further notice.
- Provide surgical masks for high risk patients use in the lobby of your office
- Hand sanitizers should be accessible for patient use in the business office and lobby
In the last several weeks we have been bombarded with information. Sorting through it all with clarity has been a challenge. We have an obligation to our teams and our patients to be wise in how we move forward. No doubt viruses are contagious. So is fear and hysteria. I hope that you can glean a few ideas here to move forward with a calm and positive strength. We will get through this I’m sure. So keep calm and carry on!