4/1/2020
Dear Patients:
Thank you for your patience while the leadership team at Puget Sound Periodontics has been preparing to care for patients with emergent dental needs during the Covid 19 pandemic. There is a FAQ section at the end of this letter.
I genuinely miss the engagement I receive each day as your doctor and know I speak for each of the doctors (and team) in the practice when I say that it is hard knowing that many of you want our help at this time, and we are unable to provide it.
First please note: We will begin seeing emergent/urgent patients on 4/1/2020. All existing appointments are considered null and void at this time. You will be contacted once the moratorium on elective dental care is lifted.
If you have contacted us in the last three days and have already spoken with Chad, completing our screening questionnaire your appointment for next week is still valid.
In order to make an appointment now, here are the appropriate steps.
Wait for us to contact you. We are ONLY contacting patients whose needs fall into the emergent/urgent category.
If we have not contacted you, please be patient, we will once we know when the moratorium on elective dental treatment will be lifted.
If you believe you need to be seen, please complete this form (follow link). Once completed we will review and contact you to help schedule a visit if you fit the criteria for urgent need.
https://forms.gle/LNQxn5oWPMHroBVu9 (Click on this link to complete the screening form). I urge to read this document carefully when answering the questions.
We are respecting the governments mandate at this time with 100% compliance, for your safety and for ours. We are also regularly donating our PPE to local area hospitals at this time. Staying home helps us with this effort.
We have updated all of our protocols for the safe treatment and evaluation of patients which is described in detail below.
We are NOT, seeing any patients with Covid 19, or have other respiratory issues including FLU at this time.
The following is a description of the updates to our patient and staff safety protocols if you are interested in learning about them.
We have always practiced above the current CDC and Washington State Department of Health guidelines for infection control. That said, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic we feel it is prudent to update our infection control measures beyond the care of instruments, touch points and office furniture to include infection control measures for air quality. We are proud of our practice and want to be thought leaders and leaders in the execution of providing our patients with the safest possible experience in an office setting. We have carefully vetted several air purification methods in addition to introducing new infection controls measures that exceed current guidelines by a wide margin.
We take your safety and our safety as priority number one when it comes to patient care. From the business office to the treatment areas these measures are meant to provide you comfort in knowing that everything that can be done to protect one another, is being done at Puget Sound Periodontics. These additional measures do come with a cost and we are instituting a Personal Protective Equipment fee at this time of $35 dollars per patient visit. We know that this fee is not negligible and appreciate your understanding that your safety and the safety of our staff necessitates this cost to remain operationally solvent, and to ensure we are able to allocate for the best available PPE to provide safe and comfortable care to you.
In that vein I want you to know all of us here are more aware than ever that proper infection control (augmented infection control and disinfection measures) will be at the fore of everyone’s mind as we start to return to the “new” normal in the post-corona virus world.
I would like to outline for you how your future visits will differ from the past ones:
Gloves will be provided to patients to don prior to handling of forms or writing utensils. To minimize the need for passing documents we ask that patients complete as much as possible online in advance of their visits.
You will notice Blue taping of the offices. These areas indicate where only ONE patient should be in this space at a time.
We have incorporated two devices which will help to minimize airborne aerosols which can lead to transmission of micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses.
We will complete daily Ozone Gas disinfection of all treatment areas as part of our day end protocol.
During business hours: Medify – HEPA13 (medical grade) air filtrations systems will be running to clear aerosols at a rate of 4 times/hour air exchange. This is meaningful as it means all aerosols in the area are cleared every fifteen minutes.
PPE – All doctors and staff in treatment areas will wear disposable gowns, ASTM level III masks or n95 respirators in addition to face protection. This protection goes both ways, from patient to provider and provider to patient.
All critical care touch points will be disinfected regularly. These include countertops, arm rests, door handles, essentially anywhere patients or staff have regular contact with surfaces. (Routine disinfection has been part of our protocol for years, but deserves emphasis here).
In addition all treatment operatories are disinfected using universal guidelines. Barriers are NOT required on lights, light handles, trays or handpieces as these are disinfected after each patient interaction.
Touchless payment options are being instituted, (these may not be available by your next visit, but you will be able to wear a glove to exchange credit cards, checks or other documents).
Our staff will be screened regularly in the same way that our patients are for risk factors. If we feel there is any risk due to their presence to you or other staff, they will be asked to stay at home.
During this difficult time, I want you to know our staff have been well looked after. Our #1 priority is their safety and by virtue of that, your safety. We want you to know we are here for you, but we ask you stay home for us if you can do so.
Remote teleconference can be set up through our team. Please review the contact people and resources below.
All locations: chad@pugetsoundperio.com - email Chad if you have specific questions about whether or not you should be seen and if your screening has been reviewed.
Federal Way Office: michelle@pugetsoundperio.com – email Michelle with billing or other treatment related questions.
West Seattle Office: appointments@pugetsoundperio.com – email Keke with billing or other treatment related questions.
Eastlake Office: kelly@pugetsoundperio.com – email Kelly with billing or other treatment related questions.
If you are a referring office with a specific question please contact Claire@pugetsoundperio.com or michelle@pugetsoundperio.com These two team members will be able to help you and are available throughout the week both remotely (from home) and in the office.
Finally, all of our doctors will be available through the contact us section of our website.
Be on the look out for further updates. We hope to see you soon. We will be ready with an environment that emphasizes our core values of safety and comfortable treatment.
Best regards,
The Team and Puget Sound Periodontics and Implant Dentistry
3/24/2020
Dear Patients and Colleagues:
Please read this letter in its entirety as it will answer many questions you may have about your dental care during these turbulent times. As of 3/23 Governor Inslee has initiated a stay at home order for all non essential services. Emergent dental care is still considered an essential service so our office will remain open on a limited basis to see emergent patients, AFTER a CDC recommended health screening has been completed, AND we have adequate personal protection equipment on hand for our staff and doctors available to minimize the risk of transmission of Covid 19 Virus.
Presently all elective dental treatment has been mandated to be postponed until May 18th. The term elective is up for debate and the risk of transmission with proper health screening and use of personal protection equipment is low, however it is not zero and any incidence of transmission from staff to patient, patient to patient or patient to staff is too high for our standards. In addition, we must also use PPE in a dental setting which takes it away from a Frontline health care worker who may require it and it is in severely limited supply. We are donating excess PPE to hospitals if possible.
For this reason we are only seeing patients where not completing treatment would likely result in a emergency room visit if their condition was left untreated, AND they have passed a 8 question screening, AND only if we have appropriate PPE available for the protection of our staff and other patients. This level of discrimination is required.
We are extremely uncomfortable knowing our patients may be in discomfort, inconvenienced or in pain due to their dental condition. The Covid 19 risk supercedes this at this time. We will try to use medications such as pain killer and antibiotics, remote evaluation by phone or video call, transmission of images via electronic methods prior to seeing you if possible.
Our business office will be open Monday – Friday from 9am to 1pm for the duration. We are here for you, we will be ready for your return to our practice when it has been determined safe to do so.
As previously mentioned please assume your presently scheduled visit has been postponed. If your visit falls into a category where we feel that management with medication is not appropriate, or where delaying treatment may result in harm to you we will be contacting you to complete a health screening in the next 7-10 days. At that time your treatment may be considered emergent and may be considered to be completed at this time. In the mean time please stay home, stay safe and help our community get past the Covid 19 pandemic.
Best regards,
The Doctors and Team of Puget Sound Periodontics and Implant Dentistry
Please see the attached FAQ below:
Q: If I have an appointment scheduled should I call to reschedule it now?
No, you will be contacted by someone in our office over the coming days (if considered essential) or later (sometime later) about rescheduling your previously scheduled treatment.
Q: How will rescheduling priority be completed?
Patients will be contacted in the order that they were previously scheduled to have their treatment completed.
Q: Will there be a medical screening if my treatment is considered essential?
Yes, here are those questions.
Do you have a Fever, Cough, Sore throat or shortness of breath
Have you experienced any change to your sense of smell or taste at this time.
Have you had close personal contact (without) PPE with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19
Have you had a International travel history in the last two weeks?
Are you in a High risk category due to age >70, or moderate to severe medical conditions which could affect immune system function?
Do you not consent to having your temperature taken upon arrival?
Have you visited a hospital setting or senior care facility in the last 2 weeks without the use of PPE?
Have you attended a function with more than 50 ppl in the last two weeks?
Yes to any disqualifies
Q: Is suture removal considered essential/emergent?
In some cases yes, you will be contacted and screened to determine when you should be seen. You do not need to call us. We will call you.
Q: Do you know when you will be able to return to normal dental treatment?
At this time to the best of our understanding we will function on an emergent basis until May 18th, returning gradually to a normal schedule at that time.
Q: How can I get in touch with my doctor?
Use the contact us section of our website to reach out to them: Contact Us
Q: If I have severe pain, swelling or other emergent needs can I be seen?
Yes, after a thorough screening of your needs and passing our health questionnaire we will still see patients, however it is our goal to keep you at home and safe if possible.
Q: My temporary crown or bridge has come off, can I be seen?
Possibly, especially if you are in pain, but you will need to contact your general dentist for this.
Q: If my denture is bothering me should I be seen?
Unless there is a significant sore forming you should not, try rinsing with warm salt water and leaving the denture out.
Q: Can medication be called in for me if needed?
Yes it can, it is preferred to manage pain and mild infections in this way at this time. Please contact the office and we will help you from there.
