How to tell if your hospital, doctor’s office, or clinic is keeping you safe from COVID-19?
Call the facility or look at their website to see what COVID safety protocols they are following.
- Before your appointment, staff may try to obtain information before your appointment – this means:
- You may be asked to fill out any paperwork online before your appointment.
- You may be asked to complete health questionnaires and/or respond to questions regarding your symptoms.
- You may be asked to register for their online health portal.
- When you arrive, you will be screened for COVID-19 – this means:
- You may have your temperature taken.
- You may be asked if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, such as a fever, a cough, or shortness of breath.
- You may be asked if you’ve had contact with anyone who’s been diagnosed with COVID-19.
- You may be asked if you’ve traveled to any place that has had a COVID-19 outbreak.
- Staff and patients are required to observe COVID-19 safety protocols – if so, signs enforcing these protocols will likely be prominently displayed:
- Wearing face masks.
- Physical distancing.
- People who have COVID-19 are treated in a separate area – this means:
- To help spread COVID-19 infection, many facilities have separate staff members who treat patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Only patients may be allowed to enter –
- To limit the spread of COVID-19, no visitors may be allowed and only parents and guardians of patients may be allowed (and only one adult may be allowed to accompany the minor).
- The hospital or clinic follows guidelines to prevent infection – these protocols should be on the facility’s website. These include:
- Washing hands often.
- Disinfecting high-touch surfaces.
- Wearing face masks or other protective equipment.
- Making extra space for physical distancing.
What can you do to protect yourself at the hospital, doctor’s office, or clinic and as you go to and from your home?
To help protect yourself from the COVID-19 virus:
- Get vaccinated against COVID-19, as soon as you can. For more information on COVID vaccinations, please visit your state’s COVID vaccination website. For information on state vaccination sites, please click here.
- Wear a face mask which covers your nose and mouth.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Keep a physical distance of 6 feet (2 meters) from other people.
- Clean your hands often, especially after touching any surfaces. Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.