COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
Additional information on the safety measures we have taken to protect can be found on the Welcome back to our Practice tab of the COVID 19 section of our website. To request an appointment or for more information, please contact our office at Encino Oral Surgery Office Phone Number 818-990-5500.
What is your office doing to prevent the spread of the virus?
The CDC and the ADA have provided guidance for infection disease protocols for oral surgery offices and outpatient surgical centers. The office is following and often exceeding those recommendations. We have made adjustments in how patients are scheduled to allow for social distancing. Patients who schedule for appointments go through a screening process to identify those patients that have signs and symptoms suggestive of coronavirus infection. Patients with those symptoms are referred to their primary care physicians.
You are likely familiar with the term social distancing. By effective scheduling, we are making every effort to keep patients from close contact with others in our reception room. When patients arrive at the office, they are again screened. In addition, their body temperature is taken as is their oxygen saturation level. As we have been doing from the inception of the practice, we continue to follow Universal Precautions with all patients. Dr. Maranon and the staff follow proper hand-washing techniques, surgical instruments are thoroughly disinfected and sterilized, Personal Protective Equipment (masks, protective eyewear and sterile gloves) are utilized at all times.
All surfaces and frequently used items (chairs, doorknobs etc.) are disinfected after every patient. Stricter air purification and room sensitization protocols are also in place. For more comprehensive explanation of our new protocols please go to the Welcome back to our Practice tab of the COVID 19 section of our website.
Are Dr. Maranon and the office staff vaccinated?
Dr. Maranon and the entire staff have been completely vaccinated against COVID 19.
What about the Delta Variant?
Delta is currently the predominant variant of the virus in the United States and is more than 2x as contagious as previous variants. The, CDC released updated guidance for everyone in areas of substantial or high transmission to wear a mask in public indoor places, even if they are fully vaccinated.
California has a requirement that health care workers be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing. Dr. Maranon and the entire staff have been fully vaccinated since the beginning of the year. Since the Delta variant is more contagious and has caused a recent surge, all visitors to the office are required to wear a mask.
How are you “Social Distancing” your patients?
In order to minimize contact with others, we are asking you to arrive 15 minutes prior to their appointment time. When you arrive at the office, please call the office before coming directly to the office and let the office staff know you have arrived. We will then ask you to wait in your car for your appointment. This will be your own personal reception area. The office staff will call you when it is time to come up to our suite. The office is large and we are rotating our rooms to allow them to be disinfected between patients.
How can I protect myself from getting sick when I come to your office?
Two of the most effective ways to protect yourself are hand hygiene and not touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Hand sanitizer is available and we encourage its frequent use. For your protection, all visitors to the office are required to wear a mask.
Please inform the office staff if you are a patient who might be at high risk for coronavirus infection. This includes persons over the age of 60, those that are immune compromised, have diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease or those with an increased body mass index. Should you have any of these conditions, office staff will make special accommodations for you when your appointments are scheduled.
What are you doing to keep patients that might be sick away from others?
Since the Delta variant has caused a recent surge, all visitors to the office are required to wear a mask. Strict screening protocols are in place. The CDC has recommended a number of questions to ask patients when they are scheduling and also when they arrive at the office. Based on those answers, we are hoping to identify those patients that might possibly be infected and are not scheduling them. Patients who schedule for appointments go through a screening process to identify those patients that have signs and symptoms suggestive of coronavirus infection. When patients arrive at the office, they are again screened. In addition, their body temperature is taken as is their oxygen saturation level. Individuals that are visibly sick, have signs or symptoms or do not meet the screening criteria are rescheduled. In all cases where Corona virus infection is suspected, those individuals are referred to their primary care physician for evaluation.
Any staff member that has signs or symptoms of an acute respiratory illness or the flu must stay at home.
We are asking that patients come by themselves to their appointments or with just one other person if an escort is needed. Each person entering the office will also have their temperature taken. During the appointment, will be seated in a closed air purified room. Every effort is being taken to keep all visitors to the office from coming in contact with others. Individuals who are elderly, and/or persons with medical problems or persons who are showing signs or symptoms of illness must not accompany patients to their appointments.
Lastly, visitors to the office must follow strict cough and sneeze protocols by using a tissue to cover their mouths and then washing their hands.
How do you know if a patient might have the coronavirus?
At this point, we cannot know. What we are doing is following the recommendations of the CDC. The CDC has recommended a number of questions to ask patients when they are scheduling and also when they arrive at the office. Based on those answers, we are hoping to identify those patients that might possibly be infected and are not scheduling them. When patients arrive at the office, they are again screened. In addition, their body temperature is taken as is their oxygen saturation level. Individuals that are visibly sick, have signs or symptoms or do not meet the screening criteria are rescheduled. Those individuals are referred to their primary care physician for evaluation.
That being said, we are following the Universal Precaution Guidelines to protect all patients.
Will you give me a mask to wear in your office?
If you do not have one, a mask will be provided when you arrive at the office.
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