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My doctor is willing to make a house call to give me my flu shot; we both agree that this will limit my exposure to just him instead of cabs and the people in his medical office building. What precautions should I take in my apartment? I have an air filter or can open the windows. Is there anything else?
The first step is to ensure that the home, or the room that the doctor’s visit will take place, has good ventilation. Good ventilation may include open windows, gentle in-room fan, or central heating fan system—all with the intention of moving stagnant air and circulating it elsewhere.
Second, during the doctor’s house call, both parties should be wearing masks, practicing hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or using alcohol sanitizer), and cleaning high-touch surfaces.
Third, the visit time (duration) should be minimized as much as possible. So, the area should be prepared with a space that is easy to navigate (cleaned up of clutter and other objects that may impede traffic through the room) and providing a desk, table, or other surface (also cleaned of clutter) for the doctor’s supplies and materials. This will allow for an efficient and rapid visit.
Fourth, make sure to communicate other questions and concerns well in advance of the visit so that the visit time itself is not prolonged by a discussion which could otherwise have been conducted prior to the visit or during a telehealth visit. So, think about all the health questions that you may have well in advance of the visit and don’t plan to just ask them with the doctor present. The longer the face-to-face visit, the more risk of transmission of infections.
Preparation is the key to ensuring the safety of the visit!
