At Spectrum Dermatology of Seattle, the health and safety of our patients and staff is always our top priority. As a medical office, our existing standards of sanitation and cleanliness have always been high. With the peak of flu season and the recent spread of the novel Coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, we are taking extra precautions to keep our community safe. At baseline, our staff practices frequent hand washing and sanitizing (“gel in, gel out”), we sterilize all equipment used for medical procedures, disinfect all high-touch surfaces between patients, and use gloves for any and all procedures at high risk of contamination. During this period of concern for COVID-19, we have increased the frequency of sanitizing common contact surfaces, including door knobs, exam tables, chairs, counter tops, and bathroom fixtures. We have also renewed focus on employee hand washing, and we provide hand sanitizer for patient use.
We also wish to provide you with the following general information from the Department of Health:
If you have fever or respiratory symptoms such as cough or shortness of breath, and have either traveled internationally in the past 14 days or had close contact with someone who’s suspected or confirmed to have coronavirus, please call your health care provider before coming in to a doctor’s office or local emergency department. A health care provider can give you instructions for seeking care, which you can do without exposing others.
The Washington State Department of Health has established a call center to address questions. Call 1-800-525-0127 and press # to learn what is happening in Washington.
You can protect yourself from COVID-19 infection the same ways you protect against the common cold or seasonal flu.
• Sanitize your hands often for at least 20 seconds each time. Alcohol gel works well in most situations (like after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose), but handwashing with soap and water should be performed after going to the bathroom, before eating, or when your hands are visibly soiled.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. (Putting a tissue on a table contaminates the surface of the table with germs.)
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Routinely disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, using a cleaning spray or wipe.
We will continue to follow updates from the CDC and Department of Health to best ensure the health and safety of our patients. Please check our website for updates. If you have a scheduled appointment and develop a fever or cough, please contact us to reschedule, and we will waive the late cancellation fee. We appreciate any advanced notice you can provide us, to allow access for other patients. We remain open for business at this time, with our regular hours and services, and we remain fully staffed. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by phone or email.
Sincerely,
Spectrum Dermatology of Seattle
