TAKING PRECAUTIONS AGAINST COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Dr. Berger and his team are taking strict precautions, said nurse and team leader Jenny Sprenzel, R.N.

When surgeries resumed at the end of April, the team instituted even stricter cleaning protocols and all staff are masked during any patient interaction, Sprenzel said. Office hours have been extended to allow for social distancing in the waiting room. Plus, the patient pre-op education class is now a video meeting as opposed to an in-person class.

Patients take a COVID-19 test 72 hours before surgery and are then asked to self-quarantine until the procedure, Sprenzel said. Protocols are changing frequently for elective surgeries based on the local guidelines. As of August, any family or visitors are strictly limited to one person to comply with social distancing. All visitors are screened and required to wear a mask. In all interactions, both the medical team and patients are masked.

“Our patients have been very comfortable with how everything is handled,” Sprenzel said.