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Dear Patient,

 

We have missed seeing you in our office during the COVID 19 pandemic. As we prepare to reopen our practice, I want to first assure you that your safety and well-being are our top priority. We have been hard at work during our down-time to make your experience with our office safe, efficient, and productive. We are committed to prevention of the spread of COVID 19 within our community. With your help, we will all prevail in this unprecedented battle that we find ourselves in. 

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Below is a summary of improvements we have made to ensure the best experience for our patients:

  • Spacing of patient appointments to minimize wait times

  • Spaced seating in the waiting areas to promote social distancing

  • Pre-screening and onsite screening of patients prior to office visits

  • Temperature checks and COVID-19 questionnaires for all patients and visitors

  • Temperature checks and screening for all providers and staff on a daily basis

  • Universal masking for all patients, visitors, and staff

  • Tissues and hand sanitizers in all exam rooms and waiting areas

  • Streamlined paperwork process to minimize time in the office

  • Air purifiers in all exam rooms and waiting rooms

  • Glass dividers at the check-in, checkout, and screening desks

  • Enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes throughout the office for treatment areas, instrumentation, and equipment.

  • Removal of cloth chairs and replacement with wipe-able chairs for ease of cleaning

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all providers and clinical staff

As you can see, we have taken every precaution to ensure the health and safety of our patients as the medical landscape has changed. We will need your help to accomplish the best possible experience for you and your family.

Here are some things that you can help us with:

1. Only the patient and a parent or caregiver (if applicable) should come to the appointment. Please find a sitter or make arrangements for other children whenever possible. Every person who comes to the appointment has to be screened for COVID 19 infection. This could cause considerable delays in the screening process.

2. Please arrive 15 minutes early for your appointment to complete the screening process. This will help us maintain our schedule and avoid prolonged wait times in the office.

3. When necessary, you may be asked to wait in your car until your exam room is ready. This will prevent crowding of the waiting areas during office hours.

4. All patients and visitors must wear a mask in the office.  If you have a mask, please wear it to your appointment. If not, one will be provided for you. Masking helps reduce the risk of spread of the virus in public places. Do not remove your mask unless directed to do so by Dr. Leslie.

5. New patients should make every effort to complete forms online, or print forms from our website, complete them and bring them to the office. This will save time in the office and help us maintain the clinic schedule. All new patient forms can be located on our Patient Resources page.

6. Our Medical Assistants will contact patients prior to the day of appointment to screen for COVID 19 and to open the medical chart  for the visit.  The staff member will do a COVID 19 questionnaire with you to ensure that you are well. If you are having flu-like symptoms, please reschedule your appointment. The staff member will also ask you about your clinical issue and record your history in your progress note. We also make confirmation calls prior to the appointment, so it may feel like we are calling you repeatedly, but please participate in this process. It will make your visit to the office much smoother and more efficient.

7. Every patient and visitor will be screened upon arrival to the office. This will include completing a COVID 19 questionnaire and having your temperature checked. If you do not pass the screen, we will refer you to your primary physician for COVID 19 testing, and we will make you a telemedicine appointment if applicable.  Please tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in this process. We have a large percentage of elderly  patients with complex medical problems, who are at great risk of dying if  they contract COVID 19. We are depending on you to help us keep the office safe for everyone, especially the chronically ill and most vulnerable among us.

8. Telemedicine is a useful option for treatment, don’t be afraid to try it. If we recommend a telemedicine appointment for you, please rest assured that it is the best option for you at the time. You will be surprised at how much we can figure out by seeing you on video. Telemedicine has been invaluable to doctors in this time of crisis, and we believe it is here to stay. Currently, many of our patients are being seen on Telemedicine. Since June 1, we have resumed seeing some patients onsite. The following visit types are appropriate examples for telemedicine:

 

  • Established patients needing prescription refills

  • Pre-operative appointments

  • Established patients who are having a flare-up of a chronic ENT issue

  • Patients needing to review test results

  • Elderly, disabled, or chronically ill patients who are at greater risk for COVID 19 infection

  • Patients who do not pass the COVID 19 screen

  • Patients  who do not require in-office procedures

To conclude, I want you to know that we will do our best to provide you with the best medical services in the safest manner possible. We look forward to seeing you again. Until then, stay safe.

Sincerely yours,

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Yvette V. Leslie, M.D.

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