COVID-19 SAFETY PLAN
Effective May 19, 2020 the Province of British Columbia commenced Phase Two of BC’s Restart Plan. As healthcare services are included in Phase Two, companies are required to ensure that they are providing patient services in a manner that promotes patient, employee/contractor and public safety. Strictly Prevention’s COVID-19 Safety Plan is to be followed by all Registered Dental Hygienists as they start to restore in-person community-based dental hygiene services. This Plan is effective immediately and will be adapted or discontinued based on future guidance from the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), College of Dental Hygienist of BC, BC’s Center for Diseases Control, and Facility Directors.
These practice guidelines follow recommendations set forth in the following resources:
Ongoing Pandemic Best Practices Standards
Public health officials have indicated that COVID-19 is expected to continue to circulate in the general population for an extended period. As such, ongoing measures to control the spread of the disease are anticipated, including requirements to practise physical distancing of at least two metres and increase screening for signs, symptoms and risk factors for COVID-19.
RDH will adhere to the BCCDC’s Infection Prevention and Control for COVID-19: Interim Guidance for Outpatient and Ambulatory Care Settings regarding IPC measures applicable to the practice environment, including PPE use and environmental cleaning best practices to enable safe practice.
RDH will adhere to all BCCDC and WorkSafeBC guidance regarding occupational health and safety exposure control plans, including robust policies, procedures and organizational cultures that ensure that no one (employees or contractors) associated with the practice attend work when they have symptoms of illness.
If the RDH is exhibiting signs of COVID-19 or respiratory illness, including cough, runny nose or fever, they must not provide in-person care and should not be in attendance at clinics or other practice settings where other staff and patients are present.
RDH will follow BCCDC and WorkSafeBC guidance for self-isolation when an employee is sick with any respiratory illness, support access to primary care provider assessment and testing, and provide sick-leave support where possible until symptoms have resolved and it is safe to return to work.
RDH will implement COVID-19 screening practices for patients.
If a patient screening reveals the patient may be at risk of COVID-19, the RDH will speak with staff and collaboratively refer the patient to a COVID-19 testing centre and defer treatment until signs and symptoms have resolved.
RDH will not provide treatment unless, in their professional opinion, it is safe to do so for both patients and staff.
Patient Screening Tool
The RDH will call or email the nursing team or family one day prior to the dental hygiene appointment to undergo a pre-screening, in addition these same questions will be asked again on the appointment date. All pre-screening questions and answers will be recorded in the patient’s chart. The RDH will take the patients temperature prior to care using a non-contact infrared thermometer. If “yes” is answered to any of the below questions the dental hygiene appointment will be rescheduled appropriately.
Are you or anyone in your family experiencing any of the following symptoms? Cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, sneezing, loss of smell with or without fever.
Has anyone been in close contact with a suspected COVID 19 case in the last 14 days or someone who has travelled internationally or to high risk areas within Canada (Ontario/Quebec) the last 14 days?
Dental Care Provider Self-Screening Tool
The RDH will practice social distancing of 2 meters whenever possible on and off site. If the RDH answers “yes” to any of the questions below the dental hygiene appointment will be rescheduled appropriately.
Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms? Cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, sneezing, loss of smell with or without fever.
Have you been in close contact or have been in isolation with a suspected COVID 19 case in the last 14 days?
Have you travelled internationally or to high risk areas within Canada (Ontario/Quebec) the last 14 days?
Do you have a temperature over 38 degrees Celsius?
Hand Washing
Hand hygiene is the single most important measure for preventing disease transmission. Hand hygiene will be performed by RDH upon entering the site and neighbourhood, and upon entering patients’ room, between donning and doffing of PPE and upon leaving the room and site.
Wash hands with soap and water for min 20 seconds.
If a sink is not available, hand sanitizer of 70% alcohol will be used for hand hygiene.
PERsonal Protective Equipment (PPE)
All dental hygiene care will include the follow PPE. Gown (disposable or reusable), mask (level 3 – recommended for non-aerosols generating medical procedures), exam gloves, shoe coverings (or facility specific footwear), and face shields will be worn during the delivery of dental hygiene services.
Gowns, gloves, and mask are single use only. If gowns are reusable, after doffing, gown will be stored appropriately until it can be laundered.
RDH will not promote or engage in aerosol generating treatments during appointments.
Donning/Doffing
The RDH will follow the protocols for five steps for Donning and nine steps for Doffing PPE for Droplet and Contact Precautions established by BC Centre for Disease Control.
The 5 steps to Don (put on) PPE ›
9 Steps to Doff (Take Off) PPE ›
Additional precautions
Appropriately placed barriers will also be used and changed between patients (e.g., keyboard computer covering). RDH will limit supplies entering the patient’s rooms and will only take what is necessary.
Frequently touched surfaces such as the trolley, tablet, bins will be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a day.
Patient room doors and windows will remain open whenever possible for increased air circulation.
Environmental Cleaning and Disinfectants for Clinic Settings ›
Safe Practice Guide - Patient and Family Handout
As Phase two of BC’s Restart Plan commenced on May 19, 2020, all healthcare providers are required to develop COVID-19 Safety Plans on how to provide in-person services safely and effectively to patients.
The purpose of this handout is to provide patients, their families and staff with a brief summary of what a return to in-person dental hygiene appointment may look like, including what you can expect from your dental hygienist and what your dental hygienist can expect from you to promote the health and well-being for all.
GENERAL PRACTICE CHANGES
We have implemented the highest standard of infection control and personal protective equipment for the safety of our patients, their families, the staff and ourselves. We will continue to closely follow the ever-changing situation with COVID 19 and will adapt our care as needed to mitigate the transfer and transmission of COVID-19 as recommended by the Provincial Health Officer and the CDHBC.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM YOUR RDH:
Your RDH will complete a COVID-19 pre-screen over the phone or via email prior to site visits.
Your RDH will complete a self-screen prior to each in-person scheduled session. Your RDH will never see patients for in-person appointments if they exhibit even mild symptoms of respiratory illness.
If ill or requiring quarantine, your RDH will follow the guidelines set by the PHO and CDHBC.
Your RDH will maintain a social distance of at least 2 meters whenever possible during appointments.
During treatment your RDH will follow the PPE standards and recommendations established by the College of Dental hygienist of BC and BCCDC.
Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPEs) includes protective eye wear and a face shield, a medical mask (level 3), and gown.
Your RDH will not promote or engage in aerosol generating treatments during appointments.
Your RDH will practice frequent hand hygiene prior to, during (when appropriate) and after each in-person appointment with soap and water OR a 70% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Your RDH has the right to end an appointment immediately if patients and/or other residents of the home /facility are not following COVID-19 precautions such as hand washing and physical distancing, or appear to have any symptoms of illness (this includes allergy and common cold symptoms) during an appointment.
Your RDH will stay informed on COVID-19 safety/risk mitigation recommendations by accessing resources provided by BC Centre for Disease Control, Work Safe BC, CDHBC and the Provincial Health Officer.
WHAT YOUR RDH CAN EXPECT FROM FAMILY MEMBERS IF THEY WISH TO BE PRESENT FOR CARE:
You and your family will maintain a social distance of at least 2 meters whenever possible.
You and your family will provide accurate responses to the COVID19 screens regarding symptoms and recent travel.
Practice frequent and adequate hand hygiene prior to each RDH visit.
Utilize appropriate sneeze and cough etiquette (sneeze/cough into your elbow or disposable tissue – discard tissue and wash hands immediately after).
DO NOT proceed with a scheduled RDH visit if you or the family member presents with any symptoms/illness the morning of the visit. We kindly ask you to CALL (do not email or text) your RDH if you need to cancel.
You have the right to end any in-person session immediately if your RDH is not following COVID-19 precautions such as hand washing and physical distancing, or appear to have any symptoms of illness (this includes allergy and common cold symptoms) during an appointment.
If you have any questions or concerns about your safety and/or delivery of Dental Hygiene Services during COVID-19, please contact Leanne Olson at 778-995-4313