Several states across the country are anticipating reopening businesses as soon as this week. While it still may be some weeks before your state lifts safer-at-home orders, now is the time to prepare for how you will reopen your dental practice. Life likely will not return to normal, the way things were before COVID. This virus will be around for a while, and dental practices will need to plan on how to keep employees and patients safe and healthy.
Our consultants want to share with you tips to consider when reopening your dental practice after COVID.
Patient Communication
Your practice is going to be functioning in a different capacity moving forward. Your team members will be wearing PPE that may be different than what patients are used to seeing before COVID. Be sure to communicate this to your patients, and explain how the gear works so that it gives them peace of mind knowing that you and your team are working diligently to prevent the spread of COVID.
Stagger Patient Schedule
Consider a “soft” reopen in which you do not overschedule or stack appointments. Start slowly by only booking every other chair at first to allow social distancing. Follow the same suggestion for hygiene. If you only have two hygiene chairs, consider alternating appointments so that only one hygiene patient is called back at a time.
Adjustments to Appointment Confirmations
Since you’ve already got the patient on the phone to confirm their appointment, make adjustments by asking patients if they have been sick, have a fever, or COVID symptoms. Be sure to also take this time to explain your office’s new safety protocols so that your patient will understand what to expect during this time.
Modify Patient Check-Ins
Consider requesting that patients remain in their vehicles until called for their appointment. The check-in process can be completed over the phone before the patient enters the office. Wait to call the next patient in only after the previous patient has left, and all disinfecting protocols are complete.
Take Patient Temperatures
While, as dentists, you are not making medical diagnoses by taking temperatures, you are simply protecting yourself and your employees. Have someone wearing PPE take the patient’s temperature as they enter the practice for their appointment.
Restrict Office Entry
Allow only the patient to be treated into the office for their appointment. Caregivers, parents, or spouses must remain outside or in their vehicles. They can be allowed to walk their loved one to the door, and then hand them off to office personnel. Be sure that patients understand they cannot bring their child into the office with them (if the parent is receiving treatment, but the child is not). This way, they can make arrangements for childcare before arriving at their appointment, surprised by this new policy.
Remove Non-Essential Items
All non-clinical items should be stored during this time. These items include brochures, models, flyers, and magazines in the waiting room. Also, keep office supplies, such as pens or pencils behind the front office desk or stored away where patients are not tempted to grab one and use it to jot down a note or their upcoming appointment time.
Safety of Dental Supply Deliveries
Request that your delivery driver leave your dental supplies orders outside upon delivery. Sanitize all products before bringing them inside for use.
Protect Yourself and Employees During Treatment
Contain aerosol spray during treatment by using rubber dams, or an Isodry suction unit. Dental hygienists should have an assistant help by using a high volume ejector (HVE) during hygiene procedures that emit aerosol.
Consider New Dental Office Position
Have a designed dental assistant be a “rover” and responsible for disinfecting all areas of the office. You could have a current dental assistant do this job or hire a new employee.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought about unprecedented change for everyone, including dental practices. It will affect how we live moving forward. The most important thing to do is to communicate these changes to your patients, as well as your employees. Thriving past COVID means adapting to these changes. To learn more or to speak with a dental practice consultant for a complimentary one-hour consultation, call (877) 768-4799 or schedule a consultation online.
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