As we control the spread of COVID-19, routine doctor’s visits will begin to be rescheduled. It can be hard to know when it is safe to return to your scheduled appointments, but rest assured that your health is the utmost priority to your provider. In addition to our existing ongoing safety procedures, we’ve added new measures to help keep you well. In order to ensure a clean, safe environment for patients, here are some things you can expect at your next doctor’s visit.

1. Social Distancing - Social distancing is still one of the most effective ways to slow the spread of COVID-19. Even if you have to come in for an appointment, there are ways to minimize contact with those around you. Patients will maintain at least a 6-foot distance between each other when checking in and in the waiting room. To practice social distancing, chairs and tables will be spaced out, acrylic shields will be placed over registration desks and there will be directions labeled via signs and on the floors to signify proper distances. Our staff will also practice social distancing unless it is necessary to come in closer contact for patient care.
2. Masks are Required - When you enter a facility, you will be given a mask to wear over your nose and mouth if you don't already have one. Wearing the mask will help ensure your safety as well as others’ by limiting exposure of respiratory droplets, the means by which the virus spreads. 
3. Additional Hand Sanitizer Available - As you have probably noticed from previous visits, automatic hand sanitizer stations are placed around all our facilities. To better accommodate the influx in hand sanitizer use by our patients and staff, we have increased the number of available stations. We encourage you to use these touchless stations before your visit, after meeting with your provider, after touching yourself or others, after using the restroom, before and after eating or drinking or after touching objects such as elevator buttons, pens or handrails.
4. Regularly Cleaning All Public Areas - While our staff is always diligent about cleaning our facilities, we have increased the number of times a day that our staff cleans all public areas. Maintaining a clean environment is highly important to the health and well-being of our patients and staff. We are also undergoing facility improvements such as replacing worn out furniture, repainting walls, replacing carpet, fixing torn or damaged wallpaper and ceiling tiles and removing outdated signage. If you believe an area is not up to the highest cleaning standards, please direct your feedback to the nearest information desk staff member to handle accordingly.

With these measures in place, along with guidance from local and state officials, we are confident in our ability to safely provide your care. To schedule your next appointment, visit MyOchsner.

The information in this blog post is accurate at the time of publication. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to change, it's possible that information has changed since being published. While Ochsner Health is trying to keep our blog posts as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations by using the CDC website.