BROOKER DENTAL CENTER OFFICE PROTOCOL
WELCOME TO BROOKER DENTAL CENTER – WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE YOU!
FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT:
- Patients, parents and visitors are required to wear face masks when entering the building regardless of vaccination status.
The staff at Brooker’s Pediatric Dental Center are working hard to ensure the safety of our patients! We have implemented additional procedures and protocols recommended by the CT State Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the American Dental Hygiene Association and the local health department.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) requires patients and healthcare personnel to wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). According to the CDC, healthcare staff must perform proper hand hygiene prior to putting on the PPE gear. Isolation gowns, NIOSH-approved N95 filtering face piece respirators or facemasks, face shields or goggles, and gloves must be worn prior to entering patient areas.
CLIENT/CUSTOMER/PATIENT PROTOCOL
- Patients/parents will be asked an array of questions regarding their current and recent health and recent travel out of the country.
- Patients, parents and visitors need to take their temperatures and record in our log book.
- Patients, parents and visitors are required to wear facemasks while in the building regardless of vaccination status.
- We are allowing one parent per child in the office.
- If the child’s parent wishes to accompany the child, they will undergo temperature check also.
- Patients/parents must also sign a document recognizing their responsibility to notify Brooker Memorial if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 or experience symptoms within two weeks of their appointment.
- After the child’s appointment, they will exit the building through the dental door next to the nitrous exam room and be escorted to meet their parent or will be escorted to their cars by dental staff.
- All patients will receive a report card of their dental visit.
VISITORS PROTOCOL: Visitors must wear a facemask when entering the building. Visitors have to check in when entering the building and have their temperature checked prior to entering the building’s program areas. Public meetings are limited at this time. Where possible, meetings are conducted online via a teleconference method.
HOW OUR STAFF WORKS:
EMPLOYEE ARRIVAL/DAILY HEALTH CHECK: Staff are to enter through the Main Entrance door and receive their temperature reading by a staff in PPE gear. Personal belongings are kept with the employee and not placed in a common area where they can be mingled with others’ personal effects.
MAINTENANCE and ADMINISTRATION: Staff must wear a facemask in the building unless working alone in their office.
TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES: Staff must complete required training prior to returning to work. All departments have conducted either online or in-person training to discuss and educate on new sanitizing procedures required by the Centers for Disease Control. Training consists of how to clean, how to use cleaning products, and department protocols for sanitizing. Training is provided during work hours and will be paid time. Weekly refreshers and COVID updates have been provided to all employees via email.
CLEANING:
The general areas of the building are sanitized according to a strict internal schedule. All staff sanitize their own work stations and shared office equipment (phones, copiers, postage machine, credit card terminal) before and after each use. Cleaning solutions are available in multiple locations to enable this. Dental and CCT staff sanitize their patient care areas before and after each patient, according to written protocols.
HAND SANITIZER, HANDWASHING:
All staff must follow the CDC recommendations for handwashing procedures. The CDC recommends washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in public places, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not accessible, staff is advised to use hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol. Hand sanitizer is placed in each break room, near copiers, at entrances, and at time clocks for use.
LOCATION OF DISINFECTANT PRODUCTS AND/OR DISPOSABLE DISINFECTANT WIPES:
Disinfectant products and/or disposable disinfectant wipes are available in each department for staff or visitors to use.
VENTILATION:
Brooker Memorial will continue to increase the percentage of outside air pulled in through HVAC systems.
DISCRETE WORK ZONES:
Brooker established staff break rooms in designated locations by department: Administration utilizes the community office in the Administration hallway, Child Care will continue to utilize their break room behind the kitchen, Dental utilizes the upstairs kitchen as their break room. All staff are welcome to take a break outside of the building. There is minimal access to departments other than an employee’s primary department throughout this time. Dental and Child Care use the adult bathrooms in their departments. Administration and CCT staff use the public restrooms.
IN THE EVENT OF A POSITIVE COVID-19 CASE:
In the event an employee tests positive for COVID-19, the employee must inform their supervisor. The employee is required to follow contact tracing protocols. Brooker Memorial will report any positive COVID-19 cases to the local health department. They will provide guidance based on the individual circumstance.
IN THE EVENT OF POTENTIAL EXPOSURE:
Potential exposure to COVID-19 is characterized as having close contact within six feet of an individual with a confirmed case. Staff who have had exposure must report this to their supervisor immediately. Employees who remain at work should follow guidelines contained in Interim Guidance for Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19. Guidance from the local health department will be obtained. Guidance is on an individual case basis.
Note: This is subject to change as requirements, guidelines and best practices are updated and revised.
BACKGROUND:
Brooker Memorial’s Pediatric Dental Center has been open for emergency patients since Governor Lamont ordered the Stay Home Order on 3/18/2020. Since then, our dental team has come to the dental center to care for seventeen patients with dental emergencies.
Beginning May 20, 2020, Brooker Memorial began to phase in program services. We will implement required protocols from the State of CT Governor’s office, CT Office of Early Childcare (OEC) and the Federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC). We will implement additional procedures and protocols recommended by the CT State Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the American Dental Hygiene Association and the local health department.