Medical Day Spa COVID-19 Reopening Plan
Enhanced Patient Protection Program (EPPP)
Important Update – Reopening for Patients
To our valued patients, vendors, and friends:
As we approach the end of Phase I of the States economic reopening plan outlined by Governor Cooper in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to reach out about what we are doing in preparation to reopen and to begin seeing patients. Over the next few weeks, we will begin the re-opening process, but things may look a little different at first.
- Beginning May 14th, our business office will be open from 10am – 4pm Monday – Friday and from 10am – 3pm on Saturday for scheduling patients and to respond to questions. We will also continue virtual consultations to prepare for your treatments and to assist with skincare purchases. We will offer curbside pick-up for products and delivery options via our online store at www.chapehillspa.store. If you have an appointment scheduled in May, we will need to reschedule your appointment.
- On June 1st, we will begin a more expanded schedule to see patients. This will include aesthetic spa services, dermal filler, and laser.
Our 4200 square foot, newly remodeled facility adheres to the stringent procedures outlined in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Guidelines for Infection Control in healthcare and medical day spa facilities. The thorough and rigorous cleaning, sterilization, and disinfection of all instruments and surfaces are routine and second nature to us as they were part of the processes we followed in our surgical facility over the years. We would like to explain the many steps we always follow to keep patients and staff safe, including the additional precautions we have implemented specifically to address COVID-19.
How We Sanitize Treatment Rooms: Before you enter the treatment room, all surfaces have been cleaned and disinfected, including the treatment chair, light, drawer handles, and countertops. Basically, we sanitize everything that has been touched or could have been touched. Any protective covers that are necessary are replaced as well. The chemicals we use are professional, hospital-grade and designed specifically for clinical environments. We also wash our hands frequently – and always before, during, and after seeing patients.
How We Sanitize Instruments: The majority of our supplies are disposable and are limited to one use/one patient. Our non-disposable items such as facial implements, laser handles, and other instrumentation, are carefully cleaned and sterilized in a designated area of our practice using hospital-grade equipment. They are not simply soaked in disinfectant. It is a process that involves, cleaning, disinfecting, and utilization a high-temperature autoclave to sterilize. We also use tests and indicators to monitor these processes, and visually inspect instruments at every step. Once again, cleaners, detergents and other chemicals being used are designed specifically for clinical, not household use.
How We Use Disposable Items: We use as many disposable items as possible such as needles, gloves, masks, etc. After each patient, disposable items are carefully discarded according to current guidelines and all members of the treatment team thoroughly wash their hands.
How We’re Responding To COVID-19: We are taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 including:
- Implementation of an Enhanced Patient Protection Program.
- Cleaning our office using products from the EPA’s list of registered surface disinfectants for use against COVID-19.
- Carefully following all national, State and local guidelines, including the CDC’s specific recommendations for our surgical staff to use Personal Protective Equipment like masks, eye protection, face shields, etc.
- Pre-screening patients and not treating anyone with a fever, cough or other symptoms of respiratory illness.
- Not allowing staff members to work if they are experiencing any respiratory symptoms.
- Taking extra care to regularly wipe down common touchpoints like door handles.
- Streamlining our procedures for check-in, removing unnecessary items from our reception area, asking patients to come alone to their appointments, and having patients wait outside or in their vehicles to minimize the number of people in the office and to maintain distancing.
How We’re Protecting Ourselves: The safety of our Medical Day Spa team is critical, so we have recently upgraded some of the personal protective equipment we use in our office to align with the CDC’s new guidelines. Because, like you, we have family and loved ones who rely on us, so working safely is extremely important to us. We are utilizing N95 masks, surgical masks, and isolation gowns and face shields, when necessary.
How We’re Welcoming You Back: You’ll notice some changes in advance of your next appointment. We will be calling you prior to your appointment to screen you for any symptoms which would require us to postpone your appointment and direct you to your healthcare provider for treatment. On that call, we can also answer any questions you may have and explain our new procedures for when you arrive at your appointment. We will take your temperature and screen you in person for symptoms prior to your appointment. While these steps are inconvenient, they are necessary to ensure we’re doing everything we can to protect all of our patients as well as our team.
Enhanced Patient Protection Program (EPPP)
Medical Day Spa of Chapel Hill is committed to creating a safe and individualized care experience for every patient. Medical Director, Dr. Gary Berger, and Clinical Director, Julia Fox, believe aggressively managing air quality, using advanced personal protection and implementing social distancing standards enables our team to provide the highest level of safety for our patients. In order to achieve our commitment, we have implemented our Enhanced Patient Protection Program (EPPP) to reduce the transmission of pathogens to the lowest levels possible. Our desire is that every patient is well informed of the measures we are taking to protect both patients and staff, so together we can focus on achieving the results you have come to expect and deserve.
The plan is made up of these three independent layers of protection:
- Air Management: We are utilizing an evacuation device for some of our procedures, including laser treatments. The evacuation device removes plumes and, potentially, other particles in the air. In addition, we have implemented an air filtration system that will disinfect and remove particles as small as COVID 19 viruses. The system is capable of decontaminating the air in the entire office every 15 minutes.
- Social Distancing Standards: We understand that maintaining proper separation from each other is the best way to prevent the spread of an infection. While we can no longer enjoy a handshake or communicate without protective barriers, we can still provide excellent patient care. In order to comply with social distancing standards, we have put the following measures in place to ensure patient safety. This will include: limiting the number of staff and patients in the office at one time to no more than eight, conducting pre-appointment and day of appointment health screenings for patients and a daily screening for employees, checking patient temperatures on arrival, plexiglass barriers in areas with less than six feet of separation, and having all patients and staff wear surgical masks or facial coverings.
- Advanced Personal Protection: We are expanding the protection we provide to our patients by following the CDC and OSHA guidelines to include all standard precautions, contact precautions, airborne precautions, and eyewear precautions while adding an additional step to complete a comprehensive 5-minute decontamination process. We have tailored personal protection equipment (PPE) to each area of the office to protect you. During any medical treatment we will be wearing N95 or similar masks, face shields, when applicable, full length gowns, and gloves to provide the highest level of protection available. After every patient visit the treatment rooms will undergo an additional 5-minute period of decontamination which will ready the counters, equipment, and air completely for the next patient.
The combination of the Air Management Program, Social Distancing Standards, and Advanced Personal Protection equipment creates our Enhanced Patient Protection Program. These measures are not mandated to keep you safe. We choose to do them because our mission has always been to protect you and our team while striving to provide you the best options to reach your treatment goal.
Best wishes,
Dr. Gary Berger and Julia Fox, RN
Medical Day Spa of Chapel Hill
