COVID-19 Precautions

    COVID -19 INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES

We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we are following in our practice to keep patients and staff safe. You will see many changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect both our patients and staff and we appreciate your understanding.

 While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety. Since we work 6 inches NOT 6 feet from the possible source of the virus and since patients could be positive but asymptomatic for Covid-19 we have implemented even stricter controls for everyone’s’ safety.  We are operating as though every one has Covid-19 even though they do not. Our delay in reopening had been related to the difficulty in obtaining adequate amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE) which had been prioritized for hospital use during the pandemic. We are now confident in our supply chain and we are over-engineering every step of the process.

FOR  EXAMPLE:

·         Our office will communicate with you before your appointment to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you come to the office. Obviously, if you have a fever, cough or are not feeling well call us to cancel your appointment and see your primary care provider. If your temperature is 100 or more you will not be seen. We will  be seeing many fewer patients each day therefore  all appointments must be confirmed / guaranteed. You will be asked to confirm your email address and mobile phone number.      

·       Please wear your mask when entering the office and only bring a small or medium handbag as this must fit in a personal belongings bag that we will provide. No back packs. You will need to wear a mask at all times in the office EXCEPT when undergoing actual treatment. Please keep all conversation to the times when the mask is on, not when it is off. This is to protect the staff.  We thank you for this.

·         You will be asked to use hand sanitizer 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.

·         Please come alone no companions or friends will be admitted into the office at this time.

·         Your temperature will be taken.

·         You may see that our waiting room has spacing of seating to maintain social distancing. We will no longer offer magazines, brochures and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.

·         We have installed  plexiglass barriers in the reception area to maintain proper distances

·         Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. We will be seeing 20-30% fewer patients per day and need to ease the backlog of patients that were cancelled these last few months. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.

·         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 Doctors/Staff will wear appropriate PPE. such as  masks, gloves, face shields,eye protection, disposable gowns, hair and shoe covers. 

Change is always challenging but our main concern is your health and safety. We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at 212 772-6900. 

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming you back.

We hope to loosen these protocols once a vaccine is made available.

Sincerely,

Drs. Burton and Laureen Langer and Team