To our patients, referral sources, and staff,

Our focus during this ever-evolving situation and time of uncertainty due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) is first and foremost the safety of our patients and staff. Following the guidelines and mandates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization, we have implemented additional procedures and measures to provide the needed medical care to our patients in a safe and efficient manner.

As essential care providers, the majority of our offices will remain open during our normal business hours to provide care to our patients throughout the state. To consolidate services and minimize risk, our Camden, SC satellite location and our West Ashley location will be closed temporarily, and we ask those patients to contact the Columbia and North Charleston offices, respectively, for anything that is needed. Our staff members are available to answer any questions and concerns that you may have regarding your appointment or care. Our locations and contact information can be found here. If this changes due to the fluid nature of this situation, we will post any updates to office closings or changes in hours to our website and social media and will contact those patients who have appointments.

We appreciate and value all of you, and we thank you for trusting us with your prosthetic and orthotic care during this time.

CORONA VIRUS/ COVID-19 ANNOUNCEMENT

1. Stay Home When You Are Sick
A best practice is to avoid contact with people who are sick. The CDC said that if you are ill you should try to distance yourself from others, so you do not spread your germs.

If you answer “Yes” to the following questions please call to let us know you need to reschedule your appointment. Additionally please call your physician and seek their advice for screening.

Question 1: Have you traveled outside the United States recently?
Question 2: Have you been exposed to a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or a person who has been required to self-quarantine?

2. Our Facilities Are Cleaned
Carolina Orthotics and Prosthetics encourages employees to routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as keyboards, remote controls, desks, countertops, patient waiting areas and doorknobs. Will regular cleaning products kill the bug? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said coronaviruses are among “the easiest to kill” with the appropriate disinfectant product.

3. Wash Your Hands
The CDC has said that keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps to avoid the spread of germs. The agency recommends washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
After using the bathroom
Before eating food.
After blowing their nose, coughing or sneezing.
After caring for someone who is sick or after changing a child’s diaper.
After handling pets or other animals or their food and waste.
After touching garbage.
The CDC advises that alcohol-based hand sanitizers should contain 60 percent to 95 percent alcohol, but washing with soap and water is preferable, particularly if hands are visibly dirty. Carolina Orthotics & Prosthetics provides soap and water and alcohol-based hand rubs in the facility and ensures that adequate supplies are maintained.

4. Practice Sneezing and Coughing Etiquette
Considering how similar viruses spread, people infected with COVID-19 may be spreading the virus through respiratory secretions when they cough or sneeze, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Existing OSHA standards apply to protecting workers from COVID-19. The CDC noted that previous outbreaks of coronavirus have spread through close contact with sick people. To help prevent the spread of germs, the CDC recommends:
Avoiding coughing or sneezing into your hands.
Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when you cough or sneeze.
Putting used tissue in a wastebasket.

Helpful Links & Resources:
How to Prepare:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/index.html
Have a Household Plan:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/get-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fcommunity%2Fhome%2Fget-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html
Symptoms:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fsymptoms.html

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html