~ We are taking every precaution to protect your safety, while providing comprehensive patient-centered care. ~
Don’t Delay Your Care – We’re Here for You!
All of Grace Cottage’s medical services have reopened with Vermont Governor Phil Scott’s approval. We’re here and prepared to safely care for you.
We understand that you may be nervous about returning to Grace Cottage for in-person appointments and testing in this time of Covid-19. Your health and safety are our top concern, and we want you to know about the thoughtful and deliberate steps we’re taking to help keep everyone safe. We’re maintaining strict standards, following the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
How We’re Keeping You Safe:
- All common areas, such as waiting rooms, lobbies and restrooms, are cleaned often, with special attention to frequently touched surfaces, including doorknobs, armrests and handrails.
- All of the chairs in our waiting rooms are spaced at least six feet apart and are disinfected throughout the day.
- All staff wear masks and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) appropriate to their duties and the type of care they provide. This ensures the safety of staff and patients alike.
- Our examination rooms and diagnostic equipment are all disinfected between patients.
- Appointments are scheduled so as to reduce the number of people in our facility at any one time, thus reducing the risk of exposure between patients and staff.
- Patients seeking care for respiratory illnesses are screened and treated in an area separate from other patients.
- We continue to restrict visitors.
What to Expect When You Come for an Appointment:
This is what you can expect when you come into any of our entrances, including the Emergency Department, the Hospital Outpatient Entrance, the Wolff Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Building, or Grace Cottage Family Health:
- Screening: A screener will stop and greet you just inside the doorway. The screener will ask you if you’ve had a fever or a cough, or if you think that you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19. They will then take your temperature with a temporal thermometer that swipes across your forehead.
- Masks: You will be given a mask to put on immediately if you’re not wearing your own. You will need to wear the mask throughout your visit, and you may take it home with you to wear when you are out in the community.
- Hand Sanitizer: Everyone is asked to sanitize their hands when they enter the building. Hand sanitizer is placed at entrances and at numerous locations throughout each building. In addition, each member of our health care staff sanitizes their hands before and after each patient encounter.
- Masks for Staff: All staff wear masks and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as needed. The type of PPE worn is determined by their duties or the care they provide, to best ensure their safety and the safety of our patients.
- Come Alone: Unless you have been pre-approved to bring a caregiver or companion, or you are under age 18, no one will be able to come into the facility with you. If you need someone to drive you to your appointment, they will be asked to wait outside or in the car.
