Dear Patients of Elizabethtown Family Dentistry,
We hope that every one of you is healthy and safe.
We are continuously reviewing recommendations by the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and neither of these entities have made any recommendation for dental offices in the United States to close, so our office remains open for patient care. Know that we practice universal precautions for every patient on a daily basis even when not faced with the threat of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
These include:
1. All clinical areas and surfaces are disinfected with medical grade disinfectants between every patient.
2. All instruments are heat sterilized after usage.
3. We routinely implement use of masks, gloves, and eye protection.
4. Regular handwashing.
In addition, we are implementing the following policies and procedures:
1. Pre-appointment screening while verifying appointments asking anyone that is exhibiting signs or symptoms of Coronavirus to reschedule for a later date.
2. Any patients that have travelled anywhere requiring the use of a passport in the last two weeks will need to reschedule.
3. Any difficult to sterilize items in our office will be removed for the time being (toys, magazines, brochures, etc.).
4. Any staff members with signs or symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) will be sent home.
5. Pens, door handles, and furniture in our waiting area will be disinfected with a medical grade disinfectant throughout the day.
What we request from you the patient during this situation:
1. If anyone in your household has a fever of greater than 100 degrees, please reschedule.
2. If anyone in your household is experiencing cold-like symptoms such as cough, runny nose, body aches, shortness of breath, diarrhea or vomiting, please reschedule.
3. If anyone in your household has traveled internationally or on a cruise ship within the last 14 days or has traveled to Washington, New York, or Califorina, please reschedule. 4. Please limit the number of non-patient family and friends that you bring with you to appointments. Patients (children or adults) requiring a caregiver should only come with one person—no siblings or additional family members, please.
5. If you do not wish to wait in our waiting room before your appointment, please call the office when you arrive and you can wait in your car until we are ready to bring you back for your appointment.
The safety and health of our patients and staff is the primary concern at Elizabethtown Family Dentistry. We appreciate your help and understanding during this time. Please feel free to call our office with any questions regarding these changes. We will update you with any changes in business hours or procedures via our patient communication system and Facebook. If you would like to see more literature regarding COVID-19 from a dental perspective, please check out this resource from the ADA: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/i/infection-control
Thank you again for your understanding and your help to keep us all safe and healthy.
Best,
Justin M. DeGarmo, DMD and Ann Hamill Greene, DDS
910.862.2892
Related Article:
https://bladencounty.org/bladen-county-releases-information-on-coronavirus/
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