Diagnostic Radiology Continues COVID Protocols

Diagnostic Radiology Associates issued this list of protocols for patients coming in for radiology services in May.

On a recent visit to the Southbury office for a routine mammography, I noticed all of these precautions were in place. While making my appointment by phone, I was informed as to how long I would be in the office. I had to confirm that I had an appointment in order to be buzzed into the building. The waiting room was almost empty, allowing for ample social distancing and everyone in the office was wearing a mask. A sign at the door noted that the DRA office had been outfitted with seven air purifiers that had been used in the space program.

To Our Patients,

What a stressful and whirlwind time this has been! The safety and health of our patients, community and staff at Diagnostic Radiology Associates (DRA) remain our number one priority especially now that businesses are beginning to reopen. DRA has begun performing nonessential exams again and have put into place the following protocols to assure anyone who enters our facility is appropriately screened.

1) DRA will not be accepting any walk-in patients. Please call our office at 203-756-8911 in order to be prescreened prior to booking an appointment or entering our facilities.

2) All scheduled patients are screened for COVID-19 symptoms over the phone.

3) We have a clinically trained staff member who is greeting every patient before they enter our facilities. These staff members evaluate every patient to assure they have a face covering, ask every patient if they have an appointment, screen every scheduled patient again for Covid 19 symptoms and check their temperatures. Every patient will be offered hand sanitizer at the door. These clinically trained staff members also constantly monitor the number of patients in our facilities to assure social distancing. They also clean high touch surfaces throughout the office 2-3 times per hour.

4) Questions asked during the screening process are:
a. Have you had a fever?
b. Have you had a cough?
c. Have you had a sore throat?
d. Have you had any shortness of breath?
e. Have you had any chills or repeated shaking with chills?
f. Have you had any unexplained muscle pain?
g. Have you had a recent loss of taste or smell?
h. Do you have an unexplained headache?
i. Have you been in close contact with anyone known to have COVID 19?

5) If you don’t have an appointment or fail the screening process you will be asked to return to your car and call our office for further instructions.

6) Any patient who does not comply with our strict protocols will be asked to reschedule their appointment to a later date.

7) We have expanded the appointment time slots of our exams to allow for social distancing in our facilities and adequate time to clean our exam rooms between patients.

8) Patients can also call our office when they arrive in the parking lot and check in over the phone. We will then text or call you when we are ready to take you from the parking lot directly into the exam room.

9) No Guests will be permitted to accompany patients during outpatient testing/procedures.
a. Exceptions include the following where one (1) caregiver may be accompany the patient during their outpatient test/procedure. Caregivers must be healthy and over the age of 18:
i. To accompany a patient who is a minor.
ii. Where a patient is otherwise unable to communicate, or make decisions, or ambulate on their own.
iii. For Obstetrical Ultrasound procedures.
iv. Any patient that will receive sedation or other procedures that would affect the patient's cognitive ability.
b. Families and caregivers are asked to remain in their car and not enter our facility unless absolutely required, as described above.

10) All our staff is screened every morning for Covid 19 symptoms, and their temperatures are taken.

11) Any staff that has any signs of illness are asked to stay home.

12) All our staff are wearing masks and maintaining six feet distance from one another.

13) All our surfaces are cleaned multiple times throughout the day.

As Connecticut begins to reopen, DRA wants to assure our patients, community and staff that we are doing our best to help eliminate the spread of COVID 19 virus by following all the CDC and state guidelines in order to continue to provide the safest and highest quality care.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Sincerely

The Doctors and Staff at DRA