In March 2020, our clinic and many other businesses temporarily closed due to COVID-19.
When we closed, some of our patients were forced to delay or pause treatment. Since closing, other patients have been unable to resolve various denture-related problems.
Since the BC premier’s May 6 announcement about loosening restrictions, patients have been contacting our office to schedule appointments.
As you may already be aware, before we can start seeing patients again, we need information to be released by the province on enhanced infection prevention and control (IPAC) protocols. For denture clinics, these protocols will potentially spell out a “new normal” for how we operate.
While we wait for that information, we have been preparing to reopen by rethinking our processes, environment, and the ways we operate. These changes will supplement the enhanced protocols we get from the government and help us to ensure that we will reopen safely.
At your next appointment with us, you can expect to observe these changes, including:
- the use of screening tools and processes to identify patients and staff with COVID-19 symptoms and restrict them from entering our clinic
- the use of social distancing measures, including staggering appointment times, adding more time between appointments, and limiting visitors in our waiting room
- new hand hygiene and face mask protocols for patients
- expansion of the personal protective equipment (PPE) our staff use
- installation of plexiglass barriers at our reception desk
- a transition to no-contact payments
As the risk of COVID-19 is still high, and because we treat many patients who are among the most at-risk for complications due to COVID-19 infection, we are committed to providing a safe environment for patients and staff.
Combining our own stronger IPAC measures with BC’s cautious and measured approach to loosening restrictions will help us to ensure that as we move ahead into the “new normal,” Vernon Denture Clinic will continue to safely work and provide patient care.