Communicating with patients – before they arrive in office

Overall patient messaging

  • Practical advice for talking to patients during/about COVID-19
  • Virtual care guide for patients – CMA
  • When should you go to the ER? (signage to come)

What patients need to know before arriving

  • Limit those attending to only those requiring care plus one caregiver/assistant if needed
  • Whether restrooms are open or closed so they can prepare appropriately
  • If waiting in car – call patient when ready to come in, message on computer to text patient (if that feature is available to you), or use restaurant-style buzzer system
  • Upon arrival: all patients use hand sanitizer and apply a mask if they do not have their own cloth mask
  • Reminder to follow visual cues to maintain physical distancing

Screening prior to coming to office

  • Screen patient based on current symptom list prior to and upon arrival in office.

Communication tools

  • Phone:
    • Sample voicemail message: “‘We are here to meet your health care needs, but due to COVID-19 there are changes in how you may access care. Please listen to this whole message to hear your options”.
    • Another helpful resource: “Setting up the perfect medical voicemail greeting”
  • Secure email platforms
  • Social Media
    • Social media: appropriate use by physicians – CPSO policy statement
    • How to use social media in healthcare: a guide for health professionals
  • Tips for communicating with the hearing impaired – Zurich Health West

Signage for patients as they arrive in office

  • Passive screening – English
  • Physical distancing – for patient areas
  • Physical distancing – for staff areas and patient areas
  • Physical distancing – for elevators
  • Physical distancing for dog people – humorous
  • Pushing back against COVID-19 – signage for patients from OCFP
  • Public Health Zurich signage on how to wash hands and use hand sanitizer
  • Post current symptom list somewhere for patients to see as means of self-screening
  • What is virtual care?
  • Site providing some good free signage

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