New normals for in office visits and elective surgeries in the time of coronavirus: things to think about from the ASPS

My national society for Board Certified Plastic Surgeons just released a statement for things to consider in this time of coronavirus quarantine and shelter in place. I won’t go through it all, as it was a long article, but I think there are some easy things to do which will lower exposure and transmission risks for the near future. So I would think this is the new “normal” for the rest of 2020 (? and beyond).

• Look at the surge statistics in your community. Are cases going up? Is there enough PPE? What testing is available? Is there capacity still in your local hospital?  Clearly in a time of increasing cases, all elective activities will cease.
• Space. 
  • • Social distancing through waiting for your appointment in the car, not the waiting room.
    • Stagger patient visits or give more time so no overlap.
    • No visitors with patients.
    • Avoid unnecessary staff
• No cross overs:
  • • Limiting use of pens/touchpads/door handles
    • No hospitality stations (oh no! no snacks, drinks, or candies)
    • No magazines.
• Cleaning
  • • Purell everyone upon entering.
    • Wiping with wipes between patients
    • Deeper clean daily
• PPE
  • • Wearing masks and gloves.
    • Minimizing exposure time, using online portals when possible
• Screening
  • • Do NOT come into the office or have a surgery if you have current exposure, symptoms (low grade fever, body aches, loss of smell, shortness of breath, diarrhea, or the other myriad of symptoms), a recent family member who was sick, recent travel or other high risk activity.
    • You should be at least three days since resolution of fever without Advil/Tylenol and either 1. test negative with two consecutive swabs or 2. at least seven days has passed since symptoms first appeared.
    • Do not come in if you tested positive for COVID 19 but are asymptomatic, until you are 10 days out.

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