| Scheduling |
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Create priority tiers (see Table 2).
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Contact patients using digital communication (e.g., EMR portal, phone, e-mail).
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Screen patients for COVID-19 symptoms at multiple time points: initial call/contact, preappointment phone call, and at front desk on arrival. Include temperature screening in initial phase.
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Consider COVID-19 testing of symptomatic patients before appointment.∗ Consider testing before all potentially aerosol-generating procedures regardless of symptoms.
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Limit patient escorts/visitors to only essential/required.
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Adequate spacing between examinations to allow time for sanitization protocols and minimal in-facility wait time for patients.
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| Environmental |
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Disinfection of bathroom facilities after each use.
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Disinfection of examination room and equipment between examinations.
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Designated special examination rooms with reserved equipment for patients with COVID-19.
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Airborne isolation rooms for TEE in COVID-19-positive cases. Ensure adequate air exchange time between cases for complete clearance of airborne particles.
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Sanitization of reading rooms and common staff areas.
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| Waiting area |
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Communication with patients about readiness for examination before arrival in reception/waiting area (e.g., text messaging, phone call). Minimize use of paper-based communication (e.g., forms, financial transactions) by using digital methods (e.g., online form completion or payment systems).
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•
Ensure appropriate social distancing norms between patients and reception staff members (e.g., Plexiglas barriers) and between patients themselves (e.g., floor markings in front of reception, distance between waiting area chairs).
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•
Disinfection material (e.g., sanitation wipes/hand sanitizers) available for general use.
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Facemasks available for patient/escort and all staff members.
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| Staffing |
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COVID-19 screening of staff members per institutional policies.
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Adequate staffing for covering backlog of cases (extended hours/weekends).
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Strategies to cope with stress and enhance resilience during periods of increased workload.
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•
Monitoring of PPE supplies to ensure uninterrupted operations in all work areas (adult, stress, pediatric, intraoperative).
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•
Appropriate social distancing and sanitization in reading rooms, break areas and staff lounges.
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