Our Commitment to Your Safety During COVID-19
Dr. Lawrence Tong and Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery are very pleased to announce that our office is open and operational! We are also happy to report that cosmetic surgery in the operating room has also resumed.
Obviously, the current health environment demands extra vigilance from everyone. As we all adjust to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, our practice takes the responsibility of providing quality care very seriously. We are working diligently to ensure you are coming into a safe environment and we would like to share with you some of the safety measures that have been implemented.
As an alternative to in-person visits, patients can choose to have virtual visits for new consultations and follow-up appointments. Clearly, some circumstances (eg. undergoing injectable treatments) make virtual visits impossible, and an in-person appointment would be the most appropriate option.
When you come for an appointment at our office, we are:
- Enhancing social distancing by scheduling appointments that are carefully timed with the goal of eliminating any physical contact between you and any other patients.
- Eliminating the practice of seating patients in the waiting room to minimize potential contact with others.
- Implementing new physical arrangements and barriers within the office to improve distancing measures between patients and staff when possible.
- Controlling the flow of patients and potential contact with others by directing their movements while in the office.
- Deep cleaning and disinfecting all touch surfaces continuously throughout the day, including after every patient has been seen in an examination room.
- Making sure all employees, including front office staff are wearing masks, gloves, and any other appropriate PPE.
- Screening patients for symptoms and risk factors before any visit.
- Re-screening and checking patient temperatures on arrival before any treatments or services are administered.
- Requiring all patients to wear masks or face coverings at their appointments.
As a way for you to assist in these efforts, we will be requiring all patients to follow these new procedures:
- All patients will have a screening questionnaire administered over the phone a few days prior to the appointment and upon arrival. Patients whose questionnaire results indicate an elevated risk may have their appointments rescheduled.
- Please arrive on time. The schedule has been fashioned in a way to eliminate contact between you and other patients. Your promptness will help ensure this can occur.
- As we are trying to minimize unnecessary contacts within the office, no visitors are allowed to accompany patients.
- Patients will have their temperature taken with a non-contact thermometer upon arrival. A fever or elevated temperature may require rescheduling of the appointment.
- All patients will be asked to wash their hands with sanitizer upon arrival to the appointment
- All patients must bring and wear a mask to their visit. Depending on the purpose of the visit, masks may be removed when being seen by Dr. Tong.
The measures listed above are also in effect at the Surgical Centre. Additional measures related COVID-19 have also been implemented specifically for the operating room setting:
- Patients undergoing surgery will be required to have a COVID-19 test 4-5 days prior to surgery, and then must quarantine until the day of surgery.
- Patients must provide documentation of the (negative) COVID-19 test result before having surgery.
- No patient will be allowed into the Surgical Centre if they fail to meet the screening questionnaire or temperature testing criteria.
- No visitors are allowed to accompany surgical patients. A strict drop off and pick-up only regimen is being followed.
- All OR staff are screened and have daily temperature testing.
- All OR staff use appropriate PPE.
- Patients are required to wear a mask upon entering the Surgical Centre.
- Every operating room undergoes a terminal cleaning after each surgical procedure where every surface is disinfected.
- Specific operating room protocols are in place for aerosol generating procedures, and around the time of intubation/extubation of patients.
In addition to these measures, we will continuously update our health and safety practices as conditions in our community change, and as more knowledge is gained about COVID-19.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with these additional measures for the health and well-being of both our patients and staff.
We are just as excited to welcome you back as you are to come see us!
Stay positive. Stay healthy. Stay safe.
The Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery Team
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