Getting Back to Work with COVID-19

As practices are turning the corner and looking to the future, there may be many questions that need answers prior to ramping up the business. This webinar will provide a review of the most recent guidance on the protection of workers and patients as healthcare strives to return to some sort of normalcy. Included with this webinar is a written plan and a checklist to assist practices as they move forward. Join Karen Gregory, RN as she digs through the documents and discusses a plan that you can implement as you are headed back to work!

Objectives:

• List resources to ensure your practice remains
  up to date on this still changing situation.
• Define the hierarchy of controls.
• Discuss three measures to reduce the
  likelihood of the spread of infection as the patient
  care increases.

Opening up America Again is the focus for re-opening facilities to provide non-emergent non-COVID-19 healthcare phase I. Karen talks about critical patient communication and critical employee communication.

Communicate in advance what the practice is doing to ensure the safety of the patient. For example, current with CDC guidelines, monitoring local and state recommendations for safety. Some examples would be when possible come to the appointment by yourself, we may ask you to wait in the car until your appointment time, we will ask screening questions again and your temperature will be taken as you enter the practice, to protect others in the practice, please wear a mask when you arrive, use the alcohol hand rub which will be provided as you enter the practice, and contact the practice if COVID – 19 symptoms occur within 48 hours of the visit.

Critical Employee Communication is also key. Stay home if you have any COVID – 19 symptoms or other illnesses. Screening questions and temperatures will be performed at the beginning of the workday, temperatures taken on non-working days, masks should be worn when entering the practice and throughout the workday, in between procedures requiring surgical masks/respirators cloth masks can be worn, contamination risk, hand hygiene, launder daily, including eye protection, and clearly outline the level of PPE the practice will provide.

We have created a COVID-19 Patient triage Questionnaire that will be available.

Upon Patient Arrival:

• Triage ALL patients outside of the practice when possible
• PPE for patient triage workers
• Respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette
• Provide a mask if the patient is not wearing a personal mask
• Mask shortage – mask should be utilized for healthcare providers
• Wash Your Hands!
• Remove magazines, toys, remotes
• Establish a plan for routine surface disinfection