Steps to protect you from COVID-19.

Before Patients Arrive

• Prepare the clinic.
  • Know which of patients are at higher risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19.
  • Consider and plan for providing more telemedicine appointments.
  • Stay connected with the health department to know about COVID-19 in community. Step up precautions when the virus is spreading in community.
  • Assess and restock supplies now and on a regular schedule
• Communicate with patients.
  • Ask patients about symptoms during reminder calls.
  • Consider rescheduling non-urgent appointments.
  • Post signs at entrances and in waiting areas about prevention actions.
• Prepare the waiting area and patient rooms.
  • Provide supplies—tissues, alcohol-based hand rub, soap at sinks, and trash cans.
  • Place chairs 6 feet apart, when possible. Use barriers (like screens), if possible.
  • If your office has toys, reading materials, or other communal objects, remove them or clean them regularly.

When Patients Arrive

• Place staff at the entrance to ask patients about their symptoms.
  • Provide symptomatic patients with tissues or facemasks to cover mouth and nose.
  • Limit non-patient visitors.
• Separate sick patients with symptoms.
  • Allow patients to wait outside or in the car if they are medically able.
  • Create separate spaces in waiting areas for sick and well patients.
  • Place sick patients in a private room as quickly as possible.

After Patients are Assessed

• Provide at-home care instructions to patients with respiratory or other symptoms. Consider telehealth options for follow up.
• Notify your health department of patients with COVID-19 symptoms.
• After patients leave, clean frequently touched surfaces using EPA-registered disinfectants—counters, beds, seating.