As COVID-19 challenges continue, CAP highly recommends the following resources to assist with safely welcoming patients back to your medical practice.
Important Notice: Physicians should note that there is no special release, consent, or acknowledgement waiver for patients to sign that patients do not hold offices liable if patient become positive with COVID-19.
CAP Patient Safety Strategies CAP has developed a list of risk reduction strategies to ensure your patients' safety.
CDC Guide to Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shares recommended techniques for cleaning your facility
Checklist to Prepare Physician Offices for COVID-19 The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) provides a comprehensive list of steps to consider when patients return to your practice, including office preparedness, infection control measures, and triage and patient flow systems.
Practice Reopening Checklist The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) shares a checklist of items to address prior to re-opening, with particular focus on human resources and operational management issues.
Guidelines and Recommendations for Re-Opening the Healthcare System The California Medical Association (CMA) recommends several steps that will be instrumental to ensuring the ongoing safety of patients and the health care workforce during COVID-19 pandemic.
Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers instruction on maintaining a clean office environment for the protection of yourself, your staff, and your patients.
Opening Up America Again Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Recommendations Re-opening Facilities to Provide Non-emergent Non-COVID-19 Healthcare: Phase I
Returning to Elective Surgeries
Joint Statement: Roadmap for Resuming Elective Surgery after COVID-19 Pandemic American College of Surgeons, American Society of Anesthesiologists, Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses, American Hospital Association
Informing Your Staff
Sample Return to Work Letter If you are re-opening your practice and hiring back laid off staff, make use of a Return to Work letter. The letter should outline the original date of office closure, the date the employee is expected to return to work, and the measures the practice has put in place to ensure patient and staff safety.