As I sit and think about what has transpired over the last 6-8 weeks, it’s kind of surreal. It reminds us just how fragile the line is. But through it all, 3 things come to mind. Health, respect and relationships.
Soon, we will begin an attempt to slowly normalize life again. In dentistry, we are told that we may begin to treat patients again on May 8. This return to practice is a time of cautious optimism. Many will feel the need to return to practice quickly. However, it is my intention to approach the reopening of dentistry slowly.
Many of you will be anxious to have appointments right away. If we analyze the metrics of our absence, we eliminated approximately 620 appointments. The tendency will be to expand hours to shuffle these lost appointments into the schedule. However, I believe this is a mistake. A more cautious approach of controlled patient contact, screening and treatment is necessary to preserve the success of the hard work we all partook in the last weeks of distancing. Fortunately, as many of you have been a patient in my practice for years, I have maintained a controlled number of active patients in order to create a concierge feel. This will be very advantageous during our restart.
You will immediately notice our commitment to your health and safety. We have always been fanatical about our infection control. This included the highest level of personal protective equipment and disinfection standards. I will be adding new features that although not required, will add new standards to our routine.
I am looking forward to getting back to the office. I truly enjoy my profession and after 26 years of practicing, have come to realize that I am NOT ready to distance and retire! However, in returning, I will be having extensive meetings with my team that will enable us to be completely prepared for the return to practice. And although life may not be as we knew it for some time, I and my team will be making decisions with people in mind. People meaning you, my team and all of our families. Please trust that our decision process on how we regain our schedule will be based on information about each of you that prioritizes treatment needs. Where, normally, I may see 5-7 dental patients and 7 hygiene patients on any given day, I will be starting slower. 2-3 dental patients and 3 hygiene patients. This will serve many purposes. It controls the return, allows us to implement our updated protocols and systems, keeps everyone healthy, continues to preserve reasonable PPE for higher tiered medical providers and minimizes early contact. The goal is to avoid a spike or rebound in the infection curve that we have all worked so hard to flatten.
Many of you will begin to hear from my office beginning around April 28 to begin scheduling. Of course, as some of you can attest to, I have been there if you needed me for an emergency and will continue to be. And if you would like to call proactively to schedule, please feel comfortable to do so.
Let’s all support each other. I was trained to put people before paper or production. And in fact, that is exactly what we are doing. I miss my practice, my patients and team. Health, respect and relationships.
Warm Regards,
Howard M. Chasolen, DMD
First and most importantly, I hope you are staying healthy. And as much of a cliché as it is, during these unprecedented times, our health and relationships are the most important things we can have.
As most are aware, on March 9, the profession of dentistry was put on hold by executive order of Governor Ron DeSantis. In order to minimize risk and flatten the exposure curve, he stipulates that all non-essential dental treatment be postponed until May 8, 2020. More recently, we have been requested to “stay at home” as well and therefore, I have requested the small number of employees that had been coming in to the office to please remain at home and practice social distancing. Although this seems very harsh, I fully agree and respect this decision. The last thing I would ever want to do is put a patient or staff member at risk for any type of illness.
You may be wondering what “non-essential” treatment means. Our profession has outlined certain parameters to triage essential vs non-essential. In a nutshell, we should only be treating patients that are in reasonable pain, have infections or other presenting conditions that left untreated would leave them worse off in the future.
I want you to know that even though our office is quiet, we are here for you if you need us. We are checking the phones constantly and I am accessible through the answering service in an emergency situation. I am grateful for your support over the last 26 years and pledge my loyalty to you as well. We anticipate returning to the office on May 11, 2020. Honestly, I am having a difficult time believing this will happen. My hope is to be allowed to return after Memorial Day.
Many of you are understandably anxious to complete dentistry that you have already started or begin much needed dentistry. My team and I will be here to make certain that happens. If necessary, I will happily consider expanded hours to ensure the timely treatment of each of your situations.
I also know this may be a time of hesitation. I assure you that we will be practicing with the state-of-the-art Personal Protective Equipment to include appropriate masks, gowns and gloves. In addition, our infection control practices have always been second to none and we will continue to be the most meticulously disinfected office anywhere. This includes wiping down anything and everything, to our handling of instruments and sterilization of all items that you will come in to contact with. We also are taking state of the art steps to reduce aerosol spray generated from dental procedures.
Please stay tuned for periodic email updates. You may also visit our website www.Chasolen.com
as well so that we can keep you updated on this ever-changing situation.
Thank you again for your loyalty and support over the years. Please remain positive, kind and healthy. I am honored and grateful to have such a wonderful group of patients and team members. I will be there for you as well.
Howard Chasolen
Chasolen - The Art of Fine Dentistry - Chasolen - The Art of Fine Dentistry
Chasolen - The Fine Art of Dentistry is dedicated to providing patients with first-class specialized dental care to meet your dental needs and goals.
Chasolen - The Art of Fine Dentistry - Chasolen - The Art of Fine Dentistry
Chasolen - The Fine Art of Dentistry is dedicated to providing patients with first-class specialized dental care to meet your dental needs and goals.
Chasolen - The Art of Fine Dentistry - Chasolen - The Art of Fine Dentistry
Chasolen - The Fine Art of Dentistry is dedicated to providing patients with first-class specialized dental care to meet your dental needs and goals.
Chasolen - The Art of Fine Dentistry - Chasolen - The Art of Fine Dentistry
Chasolen - The Fine Art of Dentistry is dedicated to providing patients with first-class specialized dental care to meet your dental needs and goals.
Chasolen - The Art of Fine Dentistry - Chasolen - The Art of Fine Dentistry
Chasolen - The Fine Art of Dentistry is dedicated to providing patients with first-class specialized dental care to meet your dental needs and goals.
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chasolen.com
In light of current concerns surrounding COVID-19, we are taking precautions to keep our patients, our staff, our families , and our community safe.
We are closing the office at this time to help flatten the curve.
All non-essential and elective treatment should be postponed.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
As always, our top priority is the health and safety of our patients and team members. The risk of spreading the COVID-19 is concerning and as a result, we plan to be vigilant in the prevention of its spread by following the recommendations of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Please be advised that our normal disinfection and sterilization practices are still being implemented. These are designed to protect both our patients and our team members from all communicable diseases, including COVID-19.
Additionally, please be assured that our team members do not work if they are ill unless they have been cleared to do so by their physician.
If you have a scheduled appointment in our office and have traveled internationally in the past 14 days, please inform our office. In addition, if you are experiencing a fever, cough, or shortness of breath please inform us so that we may reschedule your appointment.
We respect and value the trust that our patients and community place in our practice. We will continue to provide exceptional periodontal care in a safe environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team members.
Thank you for your continued confidence.
This March our patients are trying their luck. Good Luck to all and remember you have to be in it to win it! 🍀
Lois and Kelly are ready for the holidays, are you?
