Dear Patients,
The past few weeks have been difficult. I’ve been composing a letter to you in my head and it keeps changing, just like the world around us. As patients, I hope you’ve learned that you can count on me to be frank, and frankly, I’ve had moments of frustration, sadness and outright anger over the past weeks. Fortunately, the remarkably clear and quiet skies, the arrival of the house wrens and an abundance of spinach and arugula in my garden thanks to a cool leisurely spring, help me return to solid ground. Online communication with friends and family has been so important. In another time we would be writing postal letters or competing for the one telephone line in the house!
Another thing that helps is having a plan to reopen! While we are grateful to care you online or by phone, it is no substitute for being together.
We will reopen on Tuesday, June 2nd. Online and telephone visits will be still be available, especially to people who are immunocompromised or live with people who are. We will also continue to offer the online option for visits that don’t require a physical examination or hands-on procedures.
Here’s how we will operate for now. It’s really different so please read on. Lori will review these procedures with you when you make an appointment and they will be included in your appointment confirmation email. Please contact us if you have questions.
- Please come into our office by yourself. Obvious exceptions are parents of children, and caretakers of elders. In this case, we appreciate just one parent or caretaker attending the visit to maintain proper physical distance. You are welcome to record your appointment or have another person join by video or phone.
- If within the past 14 days, you have experienced symptoms of COVID-19, been exposed to someone ill with COVID-19, are in quarantine as mandated by the state of Kansas, or have not practiced physical distancing due to the nature of your work or other reasons, we request you reschedule your appointment. It is also possible to conduct your appointment by video or phone. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell. A FAQ about Kansas quarantine requirements can be found here: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/faq.aspx?TID=15
- Please call our office when you arrive. Please wait in your car until Lori notifies you to come into the office.
- All patients must wear a face covering while in the office. Dr. Klug will direct you to remove it as needed for examinations.
- Please practice hand hygiene upon entering the building. There are restrooms on both sides of the elevators on our floor and Lori will offer you hand sanitizer.
- Lori will review and update personal, insurance and payment information before you arrive to reduce contact and maintain physical distance at the front desk. If this is not possible, we will invite you to be seated in our reception area. Lori will call you to the desk as needed, then please return to your seat.
- All equipment and areas of patient contact will be cleaned between appointments.
- Lori and Dr. Klug will wear CDC compliant face masks for all patient visits. Dr. Klug additionally will wear an isolation gown, surgical cap and face shield during Biomeridian visits and osteopathic treatments due to the prolonged close contact these procedures require. She will change her personal protective gear after every patient. We will continue to practice proper hand hygiene.
I continue to advise everyone to practice hand hygiene, physical distancing, mask wearing in public, and to stay home as much as possible. Remember, COVID-19 will be with us for a long time and this is no time to slack off. Please follow your state and local guidelines and regulations. I have changed my opinion about mask wearing during outdoor exercise. Virologists think that there isn’t enough time to be infected by a runner or cyclist breathing hard as they pass by. However, I do recommend that pack running and pack cycling be avoided. You may want to carry a mask with you in case you meet a friend and decide to catch-up from the recommended physical distance.
Here’s to a safe return to togetherness! Be well.
Warmly,
Bethany Klug, DO