Office Protocols & Guidelines During COVID-19  

Dr. Tamis is currently seeing a limited number of clients for in-person assessments. For in-person sessions, families must agree to the safety protocols intended to protect our wellbeing and the health of our community. Additionally, it will be important for parents to determine whether their child is able to comply with the safety protocols related to COVID-19.

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Safety Precautions for In-Person Testing

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The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the way psychological evaluations are conducted. The virus is known to be spread by person-to-person contact, via droplets of saliva and mucous, and through the air, especially in rooms with crowding and/or poor air circulation. 

My practice is taking the following steps to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus within the office, including: 

• Increasing ventilation by opening office windows (temperature and outdoor air quality permitting)

• Addition of HEPA air filtration in areas away from the windows

• Distance for In-Office Testing:  When feasible, in-office testing will be done from an increased distance, making use of stations and spaced seating

  • ​Test selection will take into consideration exposure risks associated with administration requirements

  • Materials will be staged in advance in order to minimize contact with shared items

• When activities must be performed at the desk (e.g., presentation of test plates and puzzles), a clear acrylic partition will be placed as a physical barrier between participant​​s

• Materials are disinfected after use (e.g., blocks, computer keyboard, iPads)

• Reducing in-person contacts and making use of telehealth appointments; there will be no staff or other clinicians in the office

• Cleaning wipes are available

• Toys have been removed from the waiting area​

• Clients are asked to remove their own waste items
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Each family should consider their own unique risks and safety concerns to determine whether completing an in-office evaluation is warranted. It remains important to me that children coming to the office feel comfortable and relaxed, even if some of our interactions are altered due to the health crisis. If your child is experiencing heightened levels of anxiety, please consider discussing possible interventions and/or having the evaluation at a later date. Anxiety and emotional distress can affect the validity of testing. Given the range of uncertainties, each family should consider their circumstances to determine whether completing an evaluation is warranted.

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Client Safety Precautions

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To obtain services in person, all patients agree to take certain precautions which will help keep everyone (you, me, our families, and other patients) safer from exposure. 

 

Before coming to your appointment:

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• Keep your in-person appointment only if you and members of your household are symptom free.

• Check your temperatures of persons presenting to the office before coming to each appointment. If it is elevated, or if you have other symptoms of the coronavirus, you agree to cancel the appointment. If you wish to cancel for this reason, the cancellation fee will be waived. 

• Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you enter the building.

• Note that the office has a shared restroom. To minimize the need to use it, remember to use the bathroom at home before leaving for your appointment.
   

When you arrive, please comply with the following guidelines:

• Bring your own mask and hand sanitizer. Visiting adults should wear a face coverings in all areas of the office. During testing, face coverings will generally be worn except in the case of validity concerns (e.g., auditory fidelity, non-repeatable test items)

• Maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet and refrain from physical contact (e.g., no shaking hands). 

• Avoid touching your face or eyes with your hands. If you do, immediately wash or sanitize your hands. 

• Ask your child whether they need to use the restroom, and accompany your child to ensure good hygiene practices

• Sofas and chairs are reserved for in-session use only. When waiting, kindly refrain from sitting down and minimize contact with the furniture in the office.

• Kindly remove any personal waste items (e.g., tissues, food wrappers) when you leave the office.

• If you are bringing your child, please make sure that your child follows all of these hygiene and distancing protocols, reviewing them prior to the first appointment. 

To minimize your exposure to the virus in your daily lives and disclose your own risk factors:

• Take steps between appointments to minimize your exposure to the virus. 

• If a resident of your home tests positive for the infection, let me know immediately and we will agree to postpone or cancel the evaluation.

• If you have a job that exposes you to other people who are infected during the course of our engagement, please share this information as soon as possible.

• Let me know if your commute or other responsibilities or activities put you in close contact with others (besides your family).

• In the event of an exposure, we mutually agree to cooperate fully with contact tracing efforts as deemed important by medical personnel.