Memorandum – COVID-19

March 16th, 2020

To Our Patients,

During these trying times, we are proud to still be there for you and your families’ dental needs. We are taking proper precautions to remain in operation. We are following updates from the CDC and responding to recommendations from the governing authorities specific to our 3 locations at Rockefeller Center, 37th & Park and SLimDental Kids on 1400 York Ave. We will remain open at reduced capacity. This means our offices are open with minimal staff, doctors and hygienists to perform necessary and emergency procedures. We will be postponing non-urgent and elective procedures. 

SLimDental and SLim Dental Kids employees and patients who are considered at risk of severe reaction to potential COVID-19 exposure will not be allowed in the office. This includes those with underlying conditions, the elderly and immunocompromised. Telephone pre-screening will be conducted prior to any visits.  We will postpone appointments a minimum of 14 days if patients answer YES to any of the following questions:

  1. Have you traveled within the last 2 weeks to any of the countries with Level III Health Notices? China; Iran; South Korea; Europe (Schengen Area): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City; United Kingdom and Ireland: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland  

  2. Are you experiencing fever, fatigue, dry cough or difficulty breathing? 

  3. Have you been exposed to anyone confirmed to have the COVID-19 virus or anyone indirectly suspected of having it through contact with a positive carrier of the virus?

  4. Is the treatment you would like to come in for elective? 

In addition we will screen body temperature immediately upon arrival and verify these questions again upon arrival as an added measure to turn away potentially exposed staff or patients from our waiting room. Finally, we have implemented the following changes inside of our offices:

  • Patients will be asked to wash hands in the operatory room and rinse with 1% hydrogen peroxide solution before any treatment.
  • We will clean and disinfect public areas frequently, including door handles, chairs and bathrooms.
  • We will uphold and maintain our usual rigorous sterilization and disinfecting procedures.
  • We have removed all reading materials and children’s toys/books from our waiting rooms.

We hope these measures will help “flatten the curve” and slow down the spread and severity of COVID-19 for our patients, staff, friends and loved ones. We hope that these measures will help our community’s front line medical and emergency responders as well as help preserve supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE). Rest assured we are doing our part to navigate through the situation moment by moment. If you or your family have any questions regarding our extra steps and techniques at this time, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Sincerely,

Stephen Lim, D.D.S.

March 15th, 2020

In recognition of ongoing news reports and the continued spread of the COVID-19 virus, we realize our patients have questions. As dedicated health care professionals, we want you to know that we remain as diligent as ever in protecting the health and safety of our patients and staff. Our practice strictly adheres to and exceeds the standards for infection control by wearing personal protective gear, using hospital-grade disinfectants, practicing the latest sterilization protocols, utilizing single-use disposable materials, and more. Every effort we have in place is to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. We want you to know that we are monitoring this situation very closely, and we will keep you updated regularly.

Symptoms of coronavirus are reported as flu-like, with varying degrees of severity. While we do not know everything about this virus to date, individuals who are elderly and/or immunocompromised appear to be the most at risk of a severe infection. To ensure your health and safety, and the health and safety of everyone at our practice, please reschedule your appointment if you or a member of your household has a cough, fever, and/or flu-like symptoms. In addition, please reschedule your appointment if you have traveled to any areas within the past 14 days that are at high risk for contracting the coronavirus.

We thank you in advance and extend our gratitude for your understanding and cooperation. Together, we can help keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office, and one of our staff members will be more than happy to assist you.

Please view and share our latest COVID-19 Symptom Comparison Chart with your friends and family.

For further information, including measures to keep yourself healthy, visit the following links: