Meausures Against Coronavirus (Covid-19) at BIDH Dental Hospital
Many people and patients may be wary about returning to work, stepping out of their house or going for dental treatments during and after the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
BIDH dental hospital is a specialized dental hospital building that caters and only treats patients for dental treatments. Therefore, we provide strict sterilization in a hospital setting standards following transmission-base precautions for infection prevention and control standards. We however do not treat generalized medical treatments and BIDH is not attached to a general hospital. It is a standalone building that has been specially designed with air ventilation design treatment rooms to function as a dental hospital. It is not a modified building and has been planned on design phase as a dental hospital following Joint Commission International (JCI) compliance flows.
“BIDH dental hospital is fully prepared with preventive measures to provide for safe dental treatment procedures. We adhere to best practices with separate in-patient and out-patient floors, anti-virus UV light sterilization, daily disinfection, PPE wear for our dentists and staff to treat patients effectively and safely”
– Dr Paworn, Medical Staff Director at BIDH Dental Hospital
BIDH dental hospital has taken numerous steps to protect our patients, visitors, dentists, healthcare workers and staff visiting our dental hospital. Here lists down what are some of the additional measures we have taken to in regards to control and prevent the spread COVID-19 on top of the standard precuations that we normally already have in place during normal circumstances (ie when there is no outbreak of infectious disease). In the later part of the article, we also lists out some initiatives that normally take as part of our daily routine practices in a hospital and ambulatory care setting. Before the onset and outbreak of the coronavirus, BIDH and its dental clinics have consistent guidelines in place to prevent flu or other infections diseases.
At our award-winning dental hospital and dental clinic, we follows evident-based practices set out by validated organizations including CDC, WHO, AAMI, ADA (see our resources link). Our team of dentists and healthcare providers are verified and licensed personnels caring for your dental treatment.
Before Dental Care
Screening at Check-in
- On arrival, your temperature is checked and possible exposure to coronavirus COVID-19 history taken prior to entering
- Patients with respiratory illness or any risk base symptons are identified and placed in a single-patient room with the door kept closed
Instructions for Patient Arrival
- Social distancing in waiting area
- wearing of masks (if necessary); for visitors who may exhibit cough or illness will be required to wear a mask and may be asked to be wait in a separate area
- infection control etiquette
During Dental Care
Use of Standard and Transmission Precautions
We practice and implement at BIDH dental clinic:
- Standard precautions: Hand hygiene, use of PPE, respiratory hygiene/etiquette, sharps safety, safe injection practices, sterile instruments and devices, clean and disinfected environmental surfaces
- Transmission-based precautions : patient placement (e.g., isolation and separating well and unwell patients), room ventilation with air-purifiers, use of respiratory protection (N-95 masks) and postponement of non-emergency dental procedures
Clinical Technique
- Reduce aerosol production as much as possible, as the transmission of COVID-19 seems to occur via droplets or aerosols
- pre-procedural mouthrinse may be used for you for preventive measures
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Use of masks and respirators
- Donning and doffing
- Equipment and supplies to help protect dental health care personnel from infection
Room Ventilations
- Use of ultra-violet light to kill viruses with treatment room after each patient room
- Your dentist inter-change rooms after each patient to enable disinfection of the treatment room
- our buidling is a specifically designed as dental hospital (not a modified structure or building), treatment rooms are fitted with ventilation flow systems to circluate airflow within the treatment room
- our dental units are equiped with European high powered suction units
After Dental Care
In Between Patients
- Treatment rooms are disinfected with routine cleaning and disinfection procedure using hospital-grade cleaners
- As much as possible, we use individual patient-based disposal items; waste are separate disposed between infectious or general waste bins
- Surfaces on door handles, desks, evalators and bathrooms are cleaed in disinfected with regular interval checks
Daily Cleaning & Disinfection
- Apart from house-keeping cleaning with hospital-grade cleaners and disinfectants at regular intervals
- Our waiting areas, corridors and common areas are sprayed with high concentrate sanitizer every end of the day. This is as another additional step to get rid of any viruses and germs that may have remain on surfaces and airborne during the day.
Post-operative Instructions
- Medications as adjuncts to care are prescrived to immunocompetent adult patients after dental treatment for pain
- Upon arriving home, healthcare workers are recommended to remove shoes, wash clothing separately from other household residents and shower immediately
FAQs on Dental Visit During COVID-19 Pandemic
The safety of our patients, doctors and staff is of the utmost importance to us. Rest assured that we follow infection control policies and the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as follow Joint Commission Internaitonal (JCI) standards on infection prevention and control protocols to decrease exposure to the Coronavirus. To further reduce the risk of spread, we have taken many steps as above in this aritcle to prevent and minimize infection.
As we are a hospital, we employ licensed thai nurses that screens for basic vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, BMI, etc) and advises on precautionary measures. As a normal practice within a hospital setting, we normally already employ standard precautions.
During this period, to help diminish the spread of the virus and to keep our patients, doctors and staff safe, we only treat patients that are well.
If you are unwell, and require emergency dental treatment or think you may need urgent dental works done, please do kindly call us in advance. We can then advise how an appointment may be set up for you. BIDH has over 33 treatment rooms across 3 levels. Your treatment can then be done on an isolated level that is separated from others. We separate our unwell and potentially risk-based patients patients on a delegated zone in order not to cross mix patients for better infection control separation.
Adult patients should not bring visitors or children with them to their appointments. Pediatric patients should be accompanied by only (1) one parent/legal guardian. We request to maximize “social distancing” and decreasing all non-urgent interactions.
Yes. Since 20 March 2020, our dental hospitals has changed it patient flow during check-in and registration to gain better control of traffic flow in and out. It is necessary have nurse screening stations set up at the open entrances to screen all patients, visitors, doctors and staff before they enter.
Your temperature will be taken and you will be asked on your travel and exposure history. Anyone with a temperature of 100 degrees (or 37.7 degree celsius) or above will not be allowed to enter our dental clinic. For other potential risks-base individuals, you will be requested to wait in designated area and given further screening assessment to determine on treatment visit setup and/or to allow you to continue your work about BIDH.
On arrival and passing screening at the entrance, registration is done on level one at the counter. You may be requested to wear a mask (if necessary or desired). Our check-in customer service counter then inform you of your respective level to go. Another customer care at that level will receive you for your dentist visit. We separate our levels based for patients who are unwell and potential risk-based patients.
You may see our staff wear a mask. Flu vaccination is given to all our healthcare staff annually, it is our policy to mask anyone if they have not received the flu vaccine. Staff who has been vaccinated may also wear masks as personal protection to you and others. We would like to assure that your healthcare providers are in good health, as we actively encourage staff to stay home if they have symptoms or are ill.
Yes, some protective steps against COVID-19:
- Practice good hand hygiene
- Cover your cough, use your elbows, not your hands
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Avoid close contact, when possible, with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness
- Stay at home if you are ill
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces with alcohol wipes or regular household cleaning chemicals
- Stay informed on facts for updates from Center for Disease Control (CDC) or World Health Organization (WHO)
We do not do testing at our dental hospital. All incoming patients are separated on entry and screened before proceeding to our lobby and waiting areas.
Every patient is screened for their temperature and take note of their travel history. If you have suspected symptons, we will refer you to one of Thailand’s hospital with COVID-19 testing facilities to have the COVID-19 tests done.
Our initiatives Before Your Dental Visit
Before you step into our dental hospital, our dental team already does much of its routine and daily preparatory work on infection prevention and controls initiatives already in place.
Sterilization, quality and infection control has always been at the core of our hospital policies and processes.
Flu Vaccine and Staff Healthcare
Our healthcare providers have annual flu vaccinations. Staff who are ill or show flu-like symptons are required to stay home.
Sterilization & Infection Control
We have a Centralized Sterilization and Supply Department (CSSD). Dedicated staff checks that every equipment has been total disinfected and sterilized with chemical and biological indicators
Patient Safety
All our healthcare staff are trained with refresher courses on patient safety and infection prevention and controls. Policies at our dental hospital focuses on quality and patient safety. We abide by International Patient Safety Goals (IPSGs) and evident-based process flows from JCI.
Hand Hygiene Vigillence
Even before the onset of the coronavirus crisis, all healthcare staff has been trained and are vigillent on hand hygiene, protect equipment wear and infection prevention and control at all levels across our organization.
Staff performs hand hygiene after each possible contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects/materials
Cleaning & Disinfectants Strategies
Cleaners, detergents and disinfectants have different uses to remove and kill viruses. Our dental hospital do stimpulate and check on which chemical components is meant to be used. These include hand sanitizers used at our public space to laundry detergents to clean any coverings
Infection Prevention & Control Team
Our dental hospital and dental center has an infection prevent and control nurse and team that overlooks. It is a vital part of a hospital and ambulatory care setting in providing safe and minimal risks treatments and quality standards.
BIDH Dental Hospital re-opens on 1st May 2020. Prepatory measures and guidelines has been set in place to maximize the safety of our patient and healthcare providers.
From 1st May 2020, there are changes to our visit fees schedules during your appointment visit on an addtional category for PPE for healthcare staff.
Due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, we feel it neccessary to safeguard our patients, dentists and staff with extra measures on infection prevention and control:
- Nursing : 100 baht (for vital signs & screening assessment)
- Sterilization : 100 baht (for routine and additional measures on UV light, anti-virus sanitizer spray, disposal equipments and items)
- PPE : 100 – 200 baht (for masks, N95 masks, disposable gowns, face shield for healthcare staff)
- WHO | World Health Organization
- CDC | Center of Disease Control and Prevention
- ADA | American Dental Association
Contact Us
98 Sukhumvit Soi 2, Khlong Toei,
Ploenchit area, Bangkok 10110
Tel : 02-115-8977, 095-517-1587
LINE ID : @DentalHospital
