COVID Safety Plan

COVID SAFETY PLAN
INGRAM FAMILY PHYSICIANS

Ingram Family Physicians has been assessed for potential risks of spreading the COVID-19 virus. Areas of risk such as waiting rooms, number of people in the waiting rooms, line-ups, communal work spaces, shared equipment, washrooms, and common touch surfaces such as door handles, light switches, chairs, etc., have been identified.

Ingram Family Physicians has reduced the number of people allowed in the waiting room at any one time, occupancy numbers have been established and posted, seating has been arranged to accommodate the recommended 6 feet for safe distancing. Ingram Family Physicians has, where possible, established work from home options for some staff and physicians are providing care through scheduled phone calls. The walk-in service has been suspended. All patients must call ahead and book and appointment before entering the clinic to see a physician or nurse. We have removed all magazines from waiting areas and physician’s exam rooms.

We have installed glass barriers in the reception area. The front door to the clinic is kept locked and patients must knock and be screened for symptoms before entering. We have also implemented a telephone check-in system where patients can call us from their vehicle and will not be let into the clinic until they can be taken directly into an exam room.

A supply of medical masks are kept at the front door and patients are screened for symptoms, asked to wear a medical mask and use hand sanitizer before entering the clinic.

If/when community COVID-19 testing is unavailable, we have a dedicated space close to an outside entrance where PPE is kept and patients are asked to stay in their vehicles while one of the physicians or nurse can assess and swab the patient outside the building.

Ingram Family Physicians has produced cleaning protocols, posted signage for hand-washing, PPE donning and doffing, and cough/sneeze etiquette.

Ingram Family Physicians staff have reviewed safe work practices in preventing the transmission of COVID-19. These practices include not attending work if symptoms of respiratory or gastric illness arise. Staff have reviewed proper hand hygiene, donning and doffing PPE, cleaning protocols and social distancing in an office setting.

Ingram Family Physicians has reviewed information on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Our office has enough hand washing stations on site for all staff members and patients, which are visible and easily accessed. Signage regarding proper hand-washing protocol is posted in all staff and patient washrooms.

DAILY PRECAUTIONS TAKEN

Personal hygiene: Daily precautions taken by staff include wearing clean clothes to work, regular washing and sanitizing of hands, and wearing a mask.

Workplace hygiene: Regular sanitization of stethoscopes, telephones, high touch surfaces, keyboards, etc. Cough/sneeze etiquette. All staff perform regular hand hygiene. Communal equipment and surfaces are wiped down regularly between uses.

Staff monitor their own health and are to exclude themselves from the workplace if they are feeling unwell. A COVID swab is mandatory for all staff with symptoms of a respiratory illness, and cannot return to the workplace until a negative swab is obtained.

MOAs screen all patients for risks before allowing entry into the clinic. Patients are being educated on any protocol changes within the clinic. All patients are being advised to attend appointments alone when possible.

Signage has been posted at the entrance to clinic to assist with communicating expectations for hand sanitizing, use of masks, physical distancing, respiratory etiquette, reporting of any recent travel history, and no entry if patient is feeling unwell or is in self-isolation.