Specialty Medical pClinics Are Back

Specialty Medical Clinics Bounce Back from COVID-19 Impacts

Olympia Orthopaedic Associates and Olympia Pediatric Dentistry are back to pre-COVID patient loads with many new safety measures in place.

by Alison Bailey

“I thought the kids would think it was kind of scary at first,” says Dr. VanCleave, “...but they just roll with it.” When the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe in mid-March, businesses across most industries shut down completely. Major medical facilities remained open, of course, but one sub-sector of this industry found itself in an interesting place. Specialty medical facilities had to cease elective procedures almost entirely but remained open to treat emergencies.

“Elective surgeries represent a large part of our practice,” explains Ben Shah, CEO at Olympia Orthopaedic Associates (OOA). “Over those couple months, we were down to 20 to 25 percent of our volume.” They only saw trauma cases and urgent fractures and injuries that would cause long term negative impacts to the patient’s health if they had waited for treatment.

All of OOA’s staff members, including Ben, went on standby. They were called in to work only when they were needed. The majority of the team collected unemployment during that time. “It was a very trying time financially, but we knew it was for the best in terms of the community’s health,” Ben says.

Ben and his team were able to implement a telemedicine system just one week into the shutdown. They continued to see follow up patients and even some new patients with telemedicine consultations. This ensured continuity of care and mental wellbeing for those patients whose conditions need regular check ins.

The governor lifted the ban on elective procedures on May 18 and the team at OOA was ready to reopen that day. They had already made plans to comply with all of the Center for Disease Control’s new safety guidelines. If you visit OOA today, expect to check in for your appointment by phone and wait to be called in. All patients must wear a face covering. Upon arrival, staff will take your temperature and ask several questions about your current health before taking you directly to an exam room. Any necessary paperwork can now be done online ahead of time.

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Staff at OOA is ready to welcome you at treatment centers around the South Sound.

Even if you can’t see their smiles, the Olympia Orthopaedic Associates team is happy to be open and caring for their patients again.

Olympia Pediatric Dentistry had a similar experience. “We were closed down for ten weeks,” says the clinic’s owner, Dr. Andrea VanCleave. Like OOA, they were able to keep staff on standby for emergency dental procedures, but telemedicine visits were not an option due to the face-to-face nature of their work.

Andrea and her team were also able to reopen their office in mid-May. They have implemented a number of operational changes similar to those of OOA, such as checking patients in over the phone from their vehicles to keep the waiting room closed. All staff members involved in direct patient care wear a full-body covering in addition to an N-95 mask, a surgical mask, and a face shield.

“I thought the kids would think it was kind of scary at first, but they just roll with it,” Andrea explains. “They are often excited for the outing, I think, and it that we’re wearing all this extra stuff.” They don’t even seem to mind the diluted hydrogen peroxide solution they have to swish with before their exams.

Andrea and Ben commend their medical professionals’ teams for being adaptable and resilient in the face of what may be the most challenging experience our community has ever faced. As specialty medical providers, they are in a unique position in the business and medical communities. They are both dedicated to serving the longterm health of anyone who needs their services.

“We’re doing everything we can to do our part to make sure everyone stays safe. We want to continue to see our patients and take care of their dental needs,” seems like the kids don’t even notice

Andrea says. Olympia Pediatric Dentistry is currently accepting new patients up to the age of 18. Visit olypd.com to schedule an appointment.

“This has taken a huge toll on our community from a health perspective as well as a business and economic perspective,” Ben says. “I think we all have to do our part and I’m proud of our company and the part that we’ve played.” Olympia Orthopaedic Associates is always accepting new patients in need of musculoskeletal care. Visit olyortho.com to learn more about their offerings.

“We’re doing everything we can to do our part to make sure everyone stays safe,” says Dr. Andrea VanCleave.