AVCC: One of the Safest Places to Be

As we all come to grips with a “new normal” in terms of safety precautions due to the coronavirus pandemic, we want to reassure our patients and visitors that we take our status as a Non-COVID-19 Care Facility very seriously. In fact, our office is one of the safest places to visit, so there is no need for you to avoid getting necessary treatment and care.

Patient & Staff Screening

We are constantly checking medical and scientific resources to ensure our practice follows and exceeds all appropriate guidelines for protecting patients, staff and the community. We screen all patients for any sign of COVID-19 infection multiple times prior to arrival:

• When you call to schedule an appointment, we are available to answer your questions regarding our facility and our safety precautions.
• Days prior to your appointment, we will ask you important questions about possible symptoms and exposure to COVID-19.
• When you come to our office, you will be asked to complete a form and your temperature will be checked. Any patients with symptoms, possible exposure or an elevated temperature will be rescheduled to a date after they have tested negative for COVID-19.

We also screen our staff members every day for symptoms, exposure history and an elevated temperature. If any member of our team has a positive screening, they will be required to have a negative COVID-19 test before returning to work. The same is true for any non-patient visitors and vendors who come to our office.

Essential Masking

We have no doubt that the effective use of face masks protects everyone. All patients and visitors to our office are required to wear a mask that covers their mouth and nose throughout their visit. We will provide disposable face masks to those who forget to bring their own.

For your protection, our staff dons even more personal protective equipment when treating patients, including two face masks, goggles, gloves and a head cover.

Cleaning & Disinfecting

Our cleaning and disinfecting practices were already above reproach before the COVID-19 outbreak, but we’ve intensified them even further to truly be one of the safest places to visit. We continue to disinfect each room after every patient, and disinfect all areas routinely throughout the day. Every workstation is supplied with disinfectant and hand sanitizer, and hand sanitizer stations are located every 6 to 12 feet throughout the practice.

Social Distancing

Following social distancing guidelines, we have reconfigured our waiting room with fewer chairs, spaced further apart. Our patients still enjoy watching HGTV while they wait for their appointment, but we have removed all reading materials. We’ve adjusted our scheduling to avoid having more than three patients in the waiting room at a time, and one in the hallway if necessary. You’ll also notice that we installed new windows and partitions in our reception, scheduling and checkout areas.

Ongoing Vigilance

The safety of our patients and staff is our utmost concern, which is why we are taking every precaution to make our office one of the safest places you will visit. Our office is safer than most other public places, such as stores and restaurants, because we are going above and beyond the safety requirements of national and international public health guidelines.

We are monitoring the latest information and guidelines daily, and doing our best to anticipate what may be coming as the year progresses. If you have any questions about what to expect during your appointment, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to provide you, as always, with the highest level of care.