Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.
Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the Iowa Dental Board, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued. We do this to make sure that our infection control procedures are current and adhere to each agencies’ recommendations.
You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:
- Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office. You will also be screened for a fever above 100.4 F.
- PLEASE CALL OR TEXT 319-895-8322 WHEN YOU ARRIVE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT AND WAIT IN YOUR VEHICLE.
- We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed. We also will require that all visitors & patients wear a mask. You may wear your own or we can provide one for you.
- You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
- Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment. We request that escorts remain in their cars. Parents of minors are still welcome but will also be subject to screening.
- We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.
- All team members have agreed to practice social distancing protocols and have their temperature taken each morning to ensure no low-grade fever.
- All staff is equipped with increased PPE including face masks at all times and N-95 face masks, face shields and head coverings.
- We have installed UV/HEPA air purifiers.
Dawn MacLennan
Office Manager
