response to covid-19

 
 

Managing during Covid-19 in 5 steps

  1. Communicate

    There are several ways to communicate. Maintain a current contact list of both patients and staff. Send emails often. Don’t go silent. More than ever they need to hear from you. Keep patients up to date on infection control practices in your office and new procedures. If you have started seeing virtually seeing patients, email them often and remind them you are there to listen to concerns and answer questions. Keeping staff updated with when you plan to reopen or changes to the practice through weekly newsletter or text message through apps help them prepare to jump back into their roles when you are ready to return to some normalcy.

  2. Educate

    People naturally seeks answers. If you don’t provide information they will seek out answers somewhere else.

    Use this time to educate staff on how to put on gloves and take them off, how to wear masks, how to clean and disinfect. If you are unsure about proper methods to conduct these activities, reach out. We can in-service your staff virtually and provide a sign off competency for your employee files.

    Make a YouTube video and show patients how to wash their hands and take their temperature. Many providers assume their patients know how to perform these tasks but many patients do not. Many do not even own a thermometer.

  3. Stay current

    Information is changing daily. Seek out reliable sources such as the CDC and medical journals. Patients and staff will look to you to confirm information they have heard. Being able to site sources provides validation to your information.

    https://covid19.nj.gov/

    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

  4. Stay Positive

    These are unprecedent times. Individuals are battling stressors not seen before, unemployment, illness, and loneliness. Be a source of positivity. Make the choice to use this time to improve your processes, tighten up loose areas, reduce costs, explore new procedures. Make the commitment to refocus, think out side the box and come back stronger than ever. Share your passion!

  5. Report Facts

    Repeat information that is factual. So many clients call us daily and say “I heard…is that true” Some statements are and some are not. While we there are many unknowns, we are learning more everyday. If you do not know an answer, seek out the truth or validate among colleagues before making assumptions.