OUR COVID-19 RESPONSE

Call 811 if you need COVID-19 advice.
Our office cannot give you COVID-19 advice.
Be sure to stay apart and stay safe!

A non-medical hotline is available 7:30am-8pm, 7 days a week at 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319)

INFORMATION REGARDING COVID-19 & YOUR APPOINTMENT

If you or your child are:

• Experiencing symptoms listed below (regardless of how mild)
• Have traveled outside Canada in the last 14 days
• Or have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19

DO NOT ATTEND YOUR APPOINTMENT WITHOUT CALLING THE CLINIC FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. Many appointments can be (or may have already been) adjusted to occur via telephone or telehealth.

SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

• Cough
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Sore Throat
• Difficulty Breathing or Shortness of Breath

STEPS WE’VE TAKEN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF COVID-19 TRANSMISSION IN THE CLINIC

We’ve taken a number of steps at the clinic to reduce the risk of transmission within the clinic, in accordance with Work Safe BC’s requirement to implement a COVID-19 Safety Plan.

REDUCED IN-CLINIC PATIENT VOLUMES

• We’ve reduced the number of patients being seen in the clinic each day, and arranged appointments to minimize the number of patients that may be in the waiting room simultaneously.
• Where possible we are deferring in-patient visits to telehealth, in accordance with guidance from Doctors of BC, to reduce the amount of foot traffic in the clinic.

CHANGES TO THE WAITING ROOM

• Chairs in the waiting room have been re-arranged to ensure they are spaced at least 2 metres apart.

CLEANING AND SANITIZING

• We’ve implemented a cleaning plan in accordance with guidance from the BC Centre for Disease Control.
• High contact surfaces in the waiting room, including door handles and chair arms are being wiped down with disinfectant more frequently.
• High contact surfaces in patient rooms are being wiped down after each use.
• Employee work stations including keyboards, phones, and other high contact areas are disinfected daily.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

• Our staff will be wearing (at a minimum) surgical masks during patient interactions, in accordance with PPE guidance from Island Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control.
• The College of Physicians asks that you wear a medical grade mask.

WASHING HANDS

• Hand sanitizer is available in the waiting room. Patients are asked to use the provided hand sanitizer upon entering the clinic.
• Staff will wash their hands before and after each patient interaction.

BRING OWN READING MATERIAL & TOYS

• We have removed all reading material and toys from the waiting room and exam rooms. Please bring your own reading material or toys.

BEST PRACTICES TO AVOID THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

• Wash your hands regularly using soap or water or if not available, using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Maintain at least 6 feet away from people who are coughing/sneezing. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing and wash your hands afterwards.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home if you’re unwell.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, should utilize the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool.
• Additional information is available on the BC Center for Disease Control Website, including Frequently Asked Questions.