Coronavirus (COVID-19) Policy

​COVID-19, originally known as 2019-nCoV, is a strain of a large family of coronaviruses which can be transmitted from animals to humans. It was first identified as the cause of a respiratory illness outbreak in Wuhan, China in late 2019. On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

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In order to prevent the spread of the corona-virus outbreak, we are taking extra step to keep all surfaces sanitized. We are seeing patients on a regular basis for now, practicing universal precautions. Please reschedule your visit if you feel sick and do not come if you traveled to high risk areas within the last 3 weeks, contact us as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment.

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Our Response

• We are reminding employees through multiple channels about washing hands often. We are talking to them about it and providing additional hand sanitizer dispensers as well.

• We are reinforcing training procedures to ensure cleaning processes are implemented properly by our employees.

• If an employee appears to be suffering from flu-like symptoms, they will be asked to promptly seek medical attention and to remain at home until they are free of symptoms.

• We are encouraging patients who are ill to seek medical attention and to avoid public exposure as much as possible. We have also established protocols to help patients get the medical attention they may need.

• We have cancelled specific counseling sessions during peak times and are limiting the total number or patients to no more than 15 gathered at a time. The 3 strike policy will not be as heavily enforced during this period.

• We are checking temperatures of patients entering the clinic and will send any patient with a fever home. They will be rescheduled and not penalized in any way.

• We are going to utilize tele-medicine visits when possible.

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Prevention

• Wash Hands Frequently: Scrub hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds for visibly dirty hands or an alcohol-based hand rub frequently for non-visibly dirty hands.

• Practice Respiratory Hygiene: When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – discard tissue immediately into a closed bin and clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

• Maintain Social Distancing: Maintain at least 3 feet distance between yourself and other people, particularly those who are coughing, sneezing and have a fever. If you are too close, you can breathe in the virus.

• Avoid Touching Eyes, Nose & Mouth: Hands touch many surfaces which can be contaminated with the virus. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your contaminated hands, you can transfer the virus from the surface to yourself.

• Seek Medical Care Early: If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early and tell your healthcare provider if you have traveled to an area where the virus has been severely impacted, or if you have been in close contact with someone who has respiratory symptoms.

• Mild Symptoms: If you have mild respiratory symptoms and no travel to hard-hit areas, still seek medical care and be sure to carefully practice basic respiratory and hand hygiene and stay home until you are recovered.

• Animal Proximity Precautions: Practice general hygiene measures when visiting farms, live animal markets, wet markets, animal product markets or contact with wild animals. Ensure regular hand washing with soap and potable water after touching animals and animal products.

• Animal Consumption: Avoid eating raw or under-cooked animal products. Handle raw meat, milk or animal organs with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices.