Keeping our patients and staff safe is our highest priority. If you have questions, call (573) 443-8773.
Below, you’ll find information about what to expect when you arrive for an appointment with a Columbia Surgical Associates surgeon. For COVID-19 measures to expect on the day of your surgery, please visit the website for your surgery location:
What to Expect When You Arrive
When you arrive for your in-person surgical consultation …
- At the door, you will be asked a series of screening questions and have your temperature taken. Anyone who is with you will be asked to wait in the car unless it is medically necessary they stay with you — however, they are encouraged to join your office visit via phone or video conferencing.
- In accordance with local city ordinance and for the health and safety of all, masks are required for all appointments. Please bring and wear a mask to your appointment. If you don’t have one, we will provide you with appropriate protection. All of our staff members will wear appropriate protective masks for your safety.
- You will then proceed to registration. Our registration desk, pens and materials are thoroughly sanitized between each patient.
- Next, you will be directed to the appropriate waiting room. All waiting room chairs are spaced apart to maintain social distancing.
- When your name is called, a nurse will take your vitals and bring you to your exam room. Our exam rooms are meticulously cleaned between each visit.
- After you reach your exam room, your doctor or nurse practitioner will be with you shortly. We invite you to bring your loved one to the meeting via speaker phone or video chat so they can be part of your health care decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are patients and staff screened for respiratory symptoms?
Yes, all patients and staff are screened for symptoms of respiratory illness before entering the building. The following questions are asked of all individuals who enter the building:
Have you or someone you have had close contact with:
- Experienced a temperature of 100.4 F or greater?
- Had a cough or shortness of breath?
- Been treated by another provider, emergency department or urgent care for respiratory illnesses?
- Been tested for or suspected of having COVID-19?
- Traveled out of state within the past 14 days? (If so, where?)
All employees are also screened upon arrival to work. Any who are unwell are mandated to stay home.
What should I do if I have cold or flu symptoms?
If you have a scheduled appointment at Columbia Surgical Associates and you have symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, congestion or runny nose, please call our office at (573) 443-8773. Our nurses will assess your symptoms, speak with your physician and provide direction for further action.
Can I bring children and family members/caregivers to my appointment(s)?
Your visitor or loved ones will be asked to wait in the car unless it is medically necessary, they stay with you — however, they are encouraged to join your office visit via phone or video conferencing.
Should I wear a mask to my appointment?
Yes. Masks are required by local ordinance, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. We ask that you bring and wear a mask to your appointment. If you don’t have one, we will provide you with appropriate protection. All of our staff members will be wearing appropriate protective masks for your safety.
What can I do to keep myself, my family and friends safe?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), these are the most important steps to take:
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Practice good hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Plan how you will take care of sick family members. Make plans for childcare if you are sick or if your child is sick. Have a thermometer at home so you can check for fever if you or a loved one feel ill.
- Try to get a few extra months’ worth of your prescription medications if possible.
Stay informed – check the CDC site regularly for new updates.