We believe the foundation of our relationship with our patients & staff is built on trust. We have been trusted by thousands of patients, over 30 years, to provide competent, compassionate care that empowers them to reach their full potential.
With so much unknown & uncertain in our situation today, one thing remains certain, our commitment to the health & safety of our patients. As such, we have created & implemented a policy based off of the current best practice guidelines from the CDC, CMS, Texas Medical Board, Governor of Texas Roadmap to Re-opening, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia, AAAASF (surgical facility accreditation) and the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation. These policies will be updated as changes occur to recommended best practice guidelines.
SCREENING
Our screening process is based on current State of Texas and CDC guidelines and will be enforced on a regular, scheduled basis and will be documented.
Screening will include all patients, visitors, staff & physicians.
STAFF SCREENING
A safe & healthy environment for patients & visitors to our practice & surgical facility begins with a healthy staff. Currently in the greater Houston area, test for COVID-19 ANTIGEN is available and results are known typically in 3 days. We provide the opportunity for our staff to be tested. Results from the antigen test reflect the positive or negative status of the person tested, as of the day of testing. Staff includes all employees & physicians.
Daily Documented COVID-19 Screening for Staff on Arrival to Include:
Any staff with a fever, low oxygen saturation, positive symptoms, exposure or travel will not be permitted to work and will be processed according to State of Texas and CDC guidelines.
Staff are also expected to honor compliance with all local, state & federal best practices for minimizing the spread of COVID-19 outside of work.
Staff are also expected to report any positive screening events on a 24/7 basis to management in order to minimize the risk of a staff member entering the practice who may pose a risk to others.
PATIENT & VISITOR SCREENING
All patients & visitors will have documented screening for COVID-19 at EACH of the following encounter points:
Screening over the phone or via email, will include the following questions:
Patients must be able to answer “NO” to all questions in order to be permitted into the practice and will be asked to re-schedule any visit to the practice should a situation occur where they would answer “YES” to any of the questions.
Screening in person for all patients & visitors will include all three of the questions above as well as documentation of temperature & oxygen saturation.
Anyone screened over the phone, email or in person who answers “YES” to any of the COVID-19 screening questions, has a fever or a low oxygen saturation will not be permitted into the practice. When necessary, further assessment & direction for each individual situation will be provided on a case by case basis.
EXPECTATIONS OF PATIENTS & VISITORS
Out of respect and concern for the health and safety of all, we ask that all patients & visitors comply with the Governor of Texas health protocol for individuals when in our practice.
This includes:
SOCIAL DISTANCING & SCHEDULING
CLINICAL VISITS
Scheduling clinic visits for new patients, existing patients, injectable patients and post-surgical patients has been altered to ensure an environment which will allow for compliance with social distancing and reduced numbers of people in the practice at any given time.
Additionally, new or existing patients who would prefer and are suitable for virtual consultations may be scheduled for a ZOOM virtual consultation with a staff member and/or Dr. Lapuerta as is necessary.
In order to satisfy these requirements, the number of appointments has been reduced and additional time has been added between arrival & departure of patients & visitors.
The total number of staff & patients in the practice will not exceed current best practice guidelines.
Patients are asked to arrive at their scheduled appointment time. Patients who arrive early will only be permitted entrance if the current number of people in the practice will allow both space to maintain social distancing & the allowed limit of people at any given time.
Patients are asked not to bring anyone with them to their appointment unless it is absolutely necessary for physical assistance during their appointment. New patient consultations may bring one adult visitor with them to their initial consultation. No children under the age of 18 will be permitted.
Any updates to best practices regarding these aspects will be immediately adopted and implemented.
SURGERY AT THE PLASTIC SURGERY INSTITUTE OF SE TEXAS (PSI), THE ON-SITE SURGICAL FACILITY
PRE-OPERATIVE APPOINTMENT
All patients scheduled for surgery with Dr. Lapuerta (regardless of facility) will:
DAY OF SURGERY
Patients are encouraged to have someone drop them off on the day of surgery to minimize the number of unnecessary visitors to the office. If absolutely necessary, patients may bring one adult with them on the day of surgery. Both the patient and anyone with the patient will have documented screening according to practice protocol.
ANESTHESIA & SURGERY
In compliance with best practice, current guidelines for reducing potential risks associated with
COVID-19, Anesthesiologists should care for all patients while wearing a non-sterile gown, an N-95 surgical respirator mask & a face shield or goggles in addition to standard OR PPE (personal protective equipment).
Anesthesia should provide a longer period of pre-oxygenation prior to placing patients under anesthesia. The form of airway maintenance selected for the patient should be based on the patient’s medical history, planned surgery & a technique that will minimize aerosolization of potential harmful material from patient exhalation.
The patient should be protected with the use of a high level antibacterial & antiviral filter in addition to the normal heat exchange & exhalation filter used on the anesthesia machine’s circuit.
RECOVERY
All staff will care for patients in recovery while wearing the standard recommended PPE as well as a face mask. Patients will also have a face mask on when they are taken to recovery.
POST-OPERATIVE PERIOD
In addition to normal post-operative care, all patients will be screened for any potential signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and appropriate guidance & care will be provided on a case by case basis
CHANGES TO PHYSICAL SETTING IN THE CLINIC & OR
CHANGES TO CLEANING IN THE CLINIC & OR