Grosjean Clinic Safety Guidance

Updated 7/7/2020

In an effort to maintain the safety of all students, clients, guests, faculty, and staff the following guidelines will be instituted within the Grosjean Clinic throughout the time necessary to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding in keeping us all safe and healthy.

Please note that this information may change in accordance with current state requirements and guidelines.

This guidance will be shared with student clinicians in written and video format prior to their return to the clinic space.

A written copy will be posted in the clinic waiting area and a copy provided to clients upon request.

Clinic Clients

Client arrival and departure:

• One parent may enter the building with a minor child under 16. The parent may stay in the waiting area at non peak times in the clinic. After 3:00 at busy times the parent may be asked to wait in their vehicle. This will allow us to limit individuals in the clinic and maintain proper social distancing.
• If the parent does not wish to enter the building, they may call the clinic and the clinician will come out and get the child.
• At departure one parent may come in to pick up their child or the clinician will bring the child to the car.
• Consider staggered times to eliminate line que for temp checks and screening.

Waiting room social distancing and safety:

• The furniture in the clinic will have tape covering certain seats to prevent a client or family member from sitting at an improper social distance.
• The magazines and toys have been removed from the waiting area.
• After clients/family have left the clinic the contacted furniture will be disinfected.

Screenings:

Clients and parents will be asked basic screening questions upon entering the clinic. These questions will also be asked of clients when calling to set up a therapy session.

• Have you or anyone in your immediate household had a fever of 100 degrees or greater in the past 72 hours?
• Have you or anyone in your household had a cough, shortness of breath, chills, sore throat, diarrhea, nausea, or new loss of taste/smell in the past 72 hours?
• Has anyone in your household tested positive for COVID-19 or were knowingly exposed within the last 2 weeks?
• Do you have a COVID-19 test pending?

Temperature Tracking:

All clients as they arrive will at the clinic will have their temperature taken by the clinic receptionist using a touch less digital thermometer. A reading of 100 degrees or higher they will not be permitted to remain in the clinic or return until the fever subsides.

Masks:

All clients, client family members, and other visitors will be required to wear a mask while in the clinic. Masks for children age 2 to 4 are optional, age 5 and up mandatory. Clients are encouraged to bring their own face mask to the clinic. Masks may be removed during therapy sessions if the individuals are seated at least 6 feet apart; the clinician wears a face shield; or is sitting behind a Plexiglas barrier. (The latter two instances relate to the speech pathology students as certain therapy requires visualization of the oral articulators.) The face shields and barriers are provided.

Observations:

No parents in the observation halls. Only supervisors or students allowed as proper social distancing is not possible.

Clinic Students, Staff, and Supervisors:

Masks:

At this time all individuals entering the clinic should wear a mask. Individuals need to have their own mask. The clinic will provide a disposable mask if an individual forgets their own. Masks may be removed during therapy sessions if the individuals are seated at least 6 feet apart; if the clinician wears a face shield; or is sitting behind a Plexiglas barrier.  (The latter two instances relate to the speech pathology students as certain therapy requires visualization of the oral articulators.) The face shields and barriers are provided.

Temperature and Symptom check:

All students, supervisors, staff as they arrive will at the clinic will have their temperature taken by the materials room worker using a touch less digital thermometer. A reading of 100 degrees or higher they will not be permitted to remain in the clinic or return until the fever subsides.

They will also be given a “Passed screening criteria” Sticker. Each day the sticker will be a different color and will allow individuals to leave the clinic and re-enter without being rescreened each time.  If the screening is failed the materials room worker should contact the clinic director or a clinic administrative assistant.

The screening questions include:

• New cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, muscle pains, sore throat, diarrhea, nausea, or new loss of taste or smell within the last 14 days
• Fever of 100 degrees or greater
• Contact with someone with known or suspected COVID-19

Gloves:

Gloves are available in the clinic kitchen and in the therapy room closets. Gloves should be worn when anticipating contact with a client’s mucous membranes, assisting with cleaning a child’s face, and when cleaning contaminated items.

Further information regarding gloves and handwashing can be found in the Clinic Universal Precautions Document which is available on the Grosjean Blackboard site.

Therapy room cleaning:

• Student clinicians will wipe down the table, chairs, light/camera/audio switches, dry erase makers, cabinet, and door handles when exiting the therapy room after each session. Spray disinfectant and paper towels are kept in the therapy room closets.
• Students will wash their hands before and after each session.
• Proper handwashing procedures are posted in the clinic bathrooms.
• Clinic sessions may be shortened to 45 minutes to allow taking client to car (if needed) and for additional cleaning. Check with your clinic coordinator for specific session length instructions.

Therapy Materials and Toys:

All therapy materials must be cleaned and disinfected before returning them to the materials and toy rooms. Items that cannot be easily disinfected (such as stuffed animals) should be avoided at this time.

Computer Lab/ Phones:

Students and supervisors will clean any phones, computer keyboards, mouse, or other equipment that they use while in the clinic.

Materials room:

In order to minimize possible contamination, students (with the exception of clinic graduate assistants) should not get or return files or test kits from the drawers or cabinets. The materials room worker should retrieve materials for the students and wipe off files and tests kits before returning them to the drawers and cabinets.

Common Areas:

Kitchen, mailbox room, conference rooms, and classroom: Individuals using these spaces need to wipe down any surfaces touched before exiting the area.

Students and supervisors will also be asked to space themselves appropriately when sitting in common areas doing their work or in meetings.

Clinic Access:

Clinical students will be asked to do their necessary work within the clinic spaces and then leave the clinic rather than using the clinic as a hang out. This will limit the number of individuals within the clinic.

Cleaning Supplies

The clinic will supply:

• Hand sanitizer
• Gloves
• Disinfectant wipes
• Cleaning spray
• Paper towels
• Soap and water in the restrooms
• Basic first aid supplies

This University guidance is subject to change as more guidance becomes available from public health and government officials. Please check back periodically for updates.