During this uncertain time, we hope this message finds you healthy.
Pre-Screening
At Piedmont surgery center, our first concern is everyone’s safety. COVID-19 and the risk of virus transmission and serious illness is still with us. As we adapt to a “new normal” we will practice safety precautions, as we return to work.
All appointments will be screened in advance, by telephone/email survey:
- To delay care of “high risk” patients
- To ensure no patients with COVID-19 symptoms, nor exposure to it, enter our facilities.
- To reschedule any patients, with non-urgent appointments, with any chronic respiratory conditions, such as COPD or who are immune-compromised or sick. We will reschedule them out 4+ weeks.
- Note: any patients being actively treated for an eye disease, we would prefer to see, in a secure setting, assuming they are not contagious with COVID-19.
Upon arrival:
- A Screening Specialist will screen everyone entering at the door and take their temperature with a non-contact thermometer (ask anyone with 100+ temperature, to leave the facility and see their PCP/local hospital to get tested first before returning).
- Patients will be given the option to wait in their vehicle and be called when we are ready to begin the exam.
- Personal protective equipment (everyone required to wear a face covering/mask which is provided when necessary).
- If you are picking up glasses, we would be happy to deliver them curbside to you.
- Entrance to our facilities is limited to our patients and their essential caregivers. All other visitors are asked to kindly wait outside.
Additional steps to keep everyone safe will involve:
- Extreme facility cleaning
- Reducing volume & separated seating to ensure social distancing throughout facilities
- Doors propped open to avoid touching
- Slit lamp shields added to protect the patient and doctors
Rest assured, we are taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. To learn more about COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at cdc.gov.
Information provided by CDC on COVID-19:
Potential mitigation activities according to level of community transmission or impact of COVID-19 by setting.
None to Minimal
- Know where to find local information on COVID-19 and local trends of COVID-19 cases.
- Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and what to do if symptomatic:
- Stay home when you are sick
- Call your health care provider’s office in advance of a visit
- Limit movement in the community
- Limit visitors
- Know what additional measures those at highrisk and who are vulnerable should take.
- Implement personal protective measures (e.g., stay home when sick, handwashing, respiratory etiquette, clean frequently touched surfaces daily).
- Create a household plan of action in case of illness in the household or disruption of daily activities due to COVID-19 in the community.
- Consider 2-week supply of prescription and over the counter medications, food and other essentials. Know how to get food delivered if possible.
- Establish ways to communicate with others (e.g., family, friends, co-workers).
- Establish plans to telework, what to do about childcare needs, how to adapt to cancellation of events.
- Know about emergency operations plans for schools/workplaces of household members.
Minimal to Moderate
- Continue to monitor local information about COVID-19 in your community.
- Continue to practice personal protective measures.
- Continue to put household plan into action.
- Individuals at increased risk of severe illness should consider staying at home and avoiding gatherings or other situations of potential exposures, including travel.
Substantial
- Continue to monitor local information.
- Continue to practice personal protective measures.
- Continue to put household plan into place.
- All individuals should limit community movement and adapt to disruptions in routine activities (e.g., school and/or work closures) according to guidance from local officials.
