At this time, masks, distancing, and screening for COVID-19 will continue to be required at our office, even for people who have been fully vaccinated. As a Dental Office with vulnerable patients, we're continuing these requirements in alignment with recommendations from the CDC and public health authorities. Our top priority is the safety of our patients, staff, and community.
YELLOWSTONE
FAMILY DENTISTRY
CHRISTOPHER M. LIM, DDS
ROBIN G. SAUNDERS, DDS
Update on Policies (Summer 2021)
Due to California’s progress in managing the pandemic, on June 15th, the state lifted most COVID-19-related community restrictions for people who are vaccinated.
At Yellowstone Family Dentistry, we share your relief and excitement at this giant step toward normalcy, and look forward to further reopening in months to come. However, at this time, masks, distancing, and screening for COVID-19 will continue to be required at our office, even for people who have been fully vaccinated.
As a Dental Office with vulnerable patients, we're continuing these requirements in alignment with recommendations from the CDC and public health authorities. Our top priority is the safety of our patients, staff, and community.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding,
Dr Lim, Dr Saunders, & Staff
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Our Response to COVID-19
Our office has been transformed to make our work environment as safe as possible for our patients and staff. At your next appointment you may notice some of these changes designed to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, while providing the safest and the most comfortable care possible. We are incredibly proud of the effort and time that our team has taken to train and learn as much as possible about preventing transmission of the Coronavirus.
Training and Educating Of Our Team
Our office has been transformed to make our work environment as safe as possible for our patients and staff. At your next appointment you may notices some of these changes designed to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, while providing the safest and the most comfortable care possible. We are incredibly proud of the effort and time that our team has taken to train and learn as much as possible about preventing transmission of the Coronavirus.
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Proper hand washing techniques were reviewed with all staff. This may seem basic; however, it is the simplest and most effective means of stopping transmission of the virus. Consequently, we have spent a lot of time ensuring that our team does it well and often, especially before and after every patient encounter.
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Masks and social distancing will be practiced by all staff.
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We were trained and tested on the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent contamination before, during , and after completion of treatment.
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All team members who are not feeling well will be asked to stay at home.
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All team members will have their temperature taken prior to beginning work each day and will be immediately dismissed if there is a presence of a fever or illness.
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We have created a specific checklist of recommendations for our team to follow so that they arrive to work healthy and go home to their families and loved ones without worry. (see Checklist of Recommendations for Our Team)
Recommendations for Our Team
Before coming to work our entire team is honoring the following guidelines…
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Monitoring temperatures and potential illness daily before coming to work (Please do not come to work if you or any other family member are experiencing symptoms; cough, sore throat, fever…etc.)
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Leave any unnecessary watches, rings, or accessories at home.
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Tie hair up, keep nails short, clean, and free of nail polish.
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Place cell phone in a Ziplock bag that you will discard at the end of the day and limit use to as little as possible.
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If bringing a lunch, place in disposable wrapping.
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Leave all scrubs and work clothes at the office to be laundered on site. Only wear your street clothes outside the building.
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Dedicate a pair of shoes that are to remain on site.
Upon arrival at work, our team will…
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Immediately have their temperature taken to confirm no presence of fever or illness.
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Place all personal belongings into their personal cubby to reduce any clutter.
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Change into scrubs and work shoes (preferably plastic and wipe-able).
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Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) that we have provided and trained on prior to caring for a patient to prevent contamination. This includes head covers, gowns, face shields, shoe covers and the N95 masks that have been professionally fit and tested.
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Practice the highest level of infection control and continued hand washing before, after, and in between seeing patients.
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Always wear a mask and continue to practice social distancing as much as possible in a dental setting.
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Limit contact by discouraging use of other workers phones, desks, offices and other work tools and equipment when possible.
After work, our team will…
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Continue excellent hand washing and personal hygiene.
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Remove scrubs to be laundered at work and change into street clothes.
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Continue excellent hand washing and personal hygiene again.
Upon arriving home, our team will…
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Continue excellent hand washing and personal hygiene.
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Shower immediately with soap and water before touching anything (including loved ones)
Recommendations for our Patients
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As we begin the process of treating patients again in our office, you will notice some significant changes. These changes are designed to protect you, and the Yellowstone Family Dentistry Team. Our office follows infection control guidelines made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the California Dental Association (CDA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Butte County Public Health (BCPH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies closely, so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.
Some of the changes you may notice at your next appointment are:
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We now have hospital grade air scrubbers in the waiting room and each operatory.
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Barriers have also been installed at both front office counters.
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Visual alerts (e.g., signs, posters) have been placed throughout the office advising patients of proper cough and sneezing etiquette to reduce spread of Covid-19.
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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. You will be asked to wait in your car instead.
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Please bring a your own mask and pen to your appointment.
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We will have hand sanitizer throughout the office that we will ask you to use upon arrival. You will also find some in other places in the office for you to use as needed.
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Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
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Virtual appointments, especially post-operative appointments, will be employed wherever possible.
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We are frequently wiping down, disinfecting, and cleaning of waiting rooms, bathrooms, door handles, tables, light switches, computers etc to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
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We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to allow for the increased 30-minute turnover time between procedures in each operatory. This will help to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.
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Treatment plans, estimates, and insurance billing will be discussed via phone call or video conferencing prior to arrival.
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Payments will be collected in advance to limit contact and encourage social distancing with front desk as much as possible.
Before you arrive for your appointment......
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All patients are being pre-screened prior to scheduling. Our office staff will ask important questions to determine if you have had symptoms of the Covid-19 infection within the last two weeks (dry cough, sore throat or fever) or are at risk. PLEASE CALL AND DO NOT COME INTO OUR OFFICE TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS.
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On the day of your appointment we ask that you call the office at (530) 895-3449 or text when you arrive and wait in your car. A team member will greet you in the parking area, take your temperature, and ask some of the same questions again.
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We will then ask you to wait in your car until contacted to come into the office and be seated. Please be prepared and bring a mask to wear until asked to remove it for your procedure. Please also be prepared to wash or disinfect your hands when asked to do so by the staff.
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As rapid testing evolves, we may ask you to arrive early enough to administer a screening test before leaving your vehicle.
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Prioritize morning appointments for high risk patients (immune compromised) or patients 60 years of age or better with early morning appointments.
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Extend appointment times to minimize or eliminate patient to patient contacts as well as to minimize use of PPE.
Overview
We have been working hard to insure the safety of everyone that walks through our doors for both our patients and staff. Our infection control protocol prior to the Coronavirus outbreak has already been scientifically shown to kill the Covid-19 virus. Even though our office has always had strict infection control measures in place prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, we feel that the new enhanced measures only serve to make an already safe environment even safer. We will continue to monitor the situation and follow recommendations set by our industry leaders as mentioned above and swiftly implement any new recommendations.
We want to thank our patients, staff, and community for their continued support through this difficult time. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon!