Hello everyone and thank you for rolling along with us through the all the Corona Closures, Virtual Visits and other recent changes! We absolutely CAN’T WAIT to get back to seeing all of you in person!
For now, our plan for reopening is based on screening and distancing. In addition to staggering patients, altering procedure protocols and continuing with Virtual Visits when appropriate, here are some of the changes to our office experience to keep you and our team members as safe as possible during the pandemic.
Our computerized patient check-in system as well as all seating and games in our lobby will be closed. We are encouraging scheduling and billing/insurance matters to be handled via telephone whenever possible, rather than in person. Unfortunately, we will be temporarily closing the coffee bar in Moorhead and the beverage station in Detroit Lakes (this may however help the siblings to not feel so bad about not tagging along to the appointment!!!).
Rest assured that as a healthcare facility we continue to practice all the usual rigorous sterilization and hygiene protections to safeguard our patients and their families. In addition, we have instituted a number of extra disinfectant and safety protocols tailored to meet particular characteristics of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), all based on guidance from the Minnesota Board of Dentistry, the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control.
As we phase back in, please know that through Virtual Visits and by combing through your charts, we know when to see you! Some appointments will take priority over others in the first few weeks, so please be patient. Appointment types (like our Debands!!!!) require more time and different resources (additional PPE and private rooms), so it will take us some time to catch up.
Lastly if any of our patients or families feel that not attending an appointment is in their best interests or the interests of our team and other patients, we will be more than happy to either find creative ways to continue to advance treatment or simply reschedule without any hassle.
While we look forward to the return of our usual extraordinary office experience, please know that we will remain available to you as we all move through this challenging time together!
Thank you all so, so much for your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ames, Dr. Peterson, and The Orthodontic Team
