The province is lifting the lockdown and starting to reopen, but COVID-19 is still a very real worry. If you are a medical practitioner, you will still need to take strong precautions to avoid encouraging any further spread of the virus and to keep your vulnerable patients as safe as possible. Here are several ways that you can treat them while the pandemic is present.
Reducing Patient Numbers
Crowding in indoor spaces increases the risk of viral spread. So, if you are treating patients in-person, you will want to reduce the numbers allowed in your facility. Do not allow walk-ins. Do not allow additional guests to accompany patients unless it’s completely necessary. You can make exceptions for patients that require assistance from caregivers, parents who need to bring children, etc.
Keep the number of daily in-person appointments low. Space out appointments to account for delays. Without a buffer, you could risk crowding vulnerable people together.
Most importantly, let patients that don’t require in-person care know that they can get virtual care instead.
Doing Virtual Visits
The Canadian Medical Association announced that one of the best options for reopening your practice during COVID-19 is to offer virtual appointments with clients who do not need to have in-person treatment. Doing this reduces your number of in-person visits and keeps your waiting room well below the capacity. It also guarantees the safety of patients who have small medical inquiries, questions and concerns.
According to a poll from the CMA, 47% of Canadians used virtual care during the COVID-19 crisis — this included texts, emails, phone calls and video chats. The poll revealed that 91% said that the experience was positive.
Virtual appointments are a good way to screen patients for signs and symptoms that indicate they need immediate care. If they’re showing severe symptoms, you can plan for an in-person appointment or direct them to go to the emergency room.
Encouraging Safety Measures
Reopening may give people a false sense of confidence that the pandemic is over. They may throw caution to the wind, ignore the need for masks in public places, go to large gatherings and stop washing hands regularly.
As a medical professional, you will need to push COVID-19 safety tips to any patients visiting your clinic. Ensure that they wear a mask, sanitize their hands and distance themselves when they arrive. You can do this for anyone who is associated with your practice. Send newsletters, emails or phone calls to guide them through these precautions and encourage them to follow them on a daily basis. They may be more open to listening to these instructions when they’re delivered from their own doctor.
Use the Right Courier Services
Another way that you can adapt your practice during COVID-19 is to use top medical courier services to ensure fast deliveries of test samples, medications and more. Our couriers are trained to handle hazardous substances and follow safety precautions, guaranteeing that the package is delivered securely to its destination.
If you are concerned about late deliveries, you can use our online applications to track your order and see if it’s on the way to the correct destination. Click here to learn about our GPS technology and to see how it can make your customer experience completely stress-free. Our website also has an ETA Board, where you can check to see the exact time that your package is expected to arrive. There is no more guesswork. You have all of the information that you need at your fingertips.
Having a reliable courier service means that you won’t have to deal with delays or lost orders when you’re already contending with the obstacles of COVID-19. You can access your essentials immediately and focus on your work.
Medical services have had to adapt to the pandemic. Even though the province is reopening, medical practitioners still need to be careful about maintaining a safe and efficient workspace for the sake of their staff, their patients, and the people they interact with.
