03/22/2020
Coronavirus and COVID-19 disease--hospital procedures.
Dutt Veterinary Hospital continues to be fully operational during the Covid-19 pandemic. We are however taking precautions to prevent exposure of staff and pet owners to coronavirus. These may change as necessary according to
updated guidelines and legal actions by authorities. The following are summaries of COVID-19 preventive measures in general and of actions recommended by government health professionals and decisions made by the hospital management to avoid or lessen the spread of COVID-19 disease in our hospital and to continue to treat our clients pets:
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Because there is currently no vaccine available to prevent COVID-19, the best way to avoid becoming ill is to avoid exposure
to the virus. Taking typical preventive actions is key: team members should avoid close contact (defined as being within
approximately 6 feet [2 meters] of an individual ill with COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time) with other people who are ill;
avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth; cover their coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash; wash
their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing, going
to the bathroom, and before eating (if soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least
60% alcohol); and stay at home when they are sick.
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Surfaces in the veterinary clinic/hospital that are touched frequently, such as workstations, keyboards, doorknobs, countertops,
and stethoscopes, are being cleaned often and wiped down by employees with disposable wipes between cleanings. Provide
no-touch disposal receptacles. Hand sanitizers are being placed in multiple locations, including in exam rooms, offices, and conference
rooms to encourage hand hygiene.
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Veterinary healthcare team members who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness will be ordered to stay at home and should not
return to work until they are free of fever (fever is defined as a temperature of 100.4F or higher, using an oral thermometer),
signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering
medicine (e.g., cough suppressants). Communication about COVID-19 with our team is stressed,
and team members have been made aware of these policies. Team members who appear to have symptoms of acute respiratory
illness upon arrival at work or who become sick during the day should be separated from other team members and sent home
immediately.
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As previously stated at this point in time we are not limiting patient care to acutely ill animals and/or emergencies. Pet owners who may be infected with coronovirus should not enter the hospital.
We will be strategic in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including
masks, gowns, and gloves.
If an animal owner is ill with COVID-19, and a veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists,we will consider the use of telemedicine to
help assess the animal’s condition and needs. If the animal needs to be seen in person, the ill owner should have a healthy family
member or friend bring their sick animal to a veterinary hospital or clinic.
We may at some point consider meeting clients with ill animals at their cars, rather than having them bring those animals into your waiting room.
When meeting clients, as a precaution, veterinary team members may wear appropriate PPE. This should reduce risk for both
veterinary team members and clients, as human-to-human contact is still believed to be the primary mode of transmission.
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At this point there is no evidence that COVID-19 disease can be transmitted from people to animals. However experts recommend that animals be kept away from people with COVID-19 disease as a precaution.
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Follow hospital and government procedures and stay abreast for any updates.
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Portions of this article are taken from the AVMA.
Connected care offers benefits for animal owners, patients, veterinarians, and our practices. The AVMA is committed to helping veterinarians leverage the convenience and benefits of new technologies that support the delivery of high-quality veterinary medical care.
