We miss you and can’t wait to see you again soon…
We would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on how we will proceed with seeing patients. First, it is important to understand that while St. Charles County has authorized the re-opening of most businesses, this is not a green light to go back to “business and usual” and disregard safety measures such as observing social distancing rules, staying six feet apart, wearing a mask, hand washing, and other safety protocols.
Our plan is to resume patient care cautiously by following state and local municipality regulations, and St. Charles County Health Department requirements. We are also following the recommendations of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), AMA (American Medical Association) and the guidance from the AVLS (American Venous and Lymphatic Society), ACCS (American College of Cosmetic Surgeons), and ACP (American College of Physicians).
Dr. Wright continues to receive updates several times a day from BJC, SSM, and Mercy Hospital Systems and he is watching for a consecutive fourteen day decline in the number of COVID-19 cases in St. Charles County, St. Louis County, and the City of St. Louis to determine when it will be safe to resume cosmetic and aesthetic appointments.
We are very confident in our ability to offer our patients lipedema treatment in a tightly controlled medical office and surgery center, where our safety protocols to protect our patients and staff far exceed those in a salon, day spa or med spa without onsite medical supervision. Because we limit the number of surgical procedures performed each day in our private surgery center, we are able to provide the highest level of safety which far exceeds standards in other surgery centers that see 10+ patients per day.
We will begin seeing cosmetic surgical patients the week of May 18 and phase in some cosmetic vein patients as our schedule and staffing allows. We understand your eagerness to resume aesthetic and cosmetic treatments; however, most of these procedures (microdermabrasion, IPL, injectables and fillers) involve treating the face, which makes these treatments extremely dangerous for our staff to perform and the patient receiving the treatment due to the close proximity required to perform these treatments. We will resume these treatments when staff members that perform them feel it is safe for them to do so or as Dr. Wright’s schedule allows (injectables and fillers).
To maintain the six-foot social distancing requirements, we will be scheduling staff to work on certain days and limiting the number of in-office appointments each day. We will only schedule certain types of appointments on specific days. We will also not overlap appointment times so that patients do not come in contact with other patients. We will be prioritizing patients that had appointments in March, April, and May based on the type of appointment and treatment. We will continue to offer patients virtual appointments for consultations and some medical appointments.
For the foreseeable future, we have initiated the following additional precautions for patients coming into the office.
- Before coming into the office for an appointment, you will need to electronically sign a COVID-19 informed consent. Please be sure we have your email so that we can send the consent electronically prior to your appointment.
-
DO NOT
come to the office If you are experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms, if you have been exposed to anyone that has symptoms or has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Symptoms include:
-
- Fever
- Shortness of Breath
- Dry Cough
- Body Aches
- Chills
- Other Flu Like Symptoms
- Pneumonia
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When you arrive for your appointment, you MUST
call the office (636-397-4012) and let us know that you have arrived. We will ask you some screening questions and a staff member will meet you at the building entrance for a temperature check. If you have a temperature over 100° or if we observe symptoms that are of concern, you will not be allowed in the office for your visit.
- We ask that you bring a mask to your appointment. If you do not have a mask, please let us know so that we can provide one for you.
- Only the patient may attend the appointment. No spouses, children, other family members or friends will be allowed to accompany the patient to the appointment – NO exceptions.
- You will be escorted directly to the exam room and instructed to use either hand-sanitizer or wash your hands.
- Staff members will wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times.
- Payment for treatments will be taken prior to you receiving treatment.
- Payments for co-pay and patient balances will be taken at the office. We will get payment from you in the exam room.
- If additional appointments need to be scheduled, please call the office to schedule or request that we contact you to schedule.
- We have always followed and continue to follow the highest standards for cleaning and sanitizing our office and exam rooms. We have increased wiping down our common areas to a minimum of once per hour.
- All staff members have been tested for COVID-19 and we will continue to test staff as appropriate. We check temperatures of staff daily at the start of their shift.
