COVID-19
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Additional COVID-19 Precautions for your Appointment:
- Please complete the self assessment before arriving at our office for any appointments to protect yourselves, other patients and our staff – https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Journey/COVID-19/Pages/COVID-Self-Assessment.aspx
- No visitors at your appointment, they may wait outside/in your vehicle
- Hand sanitizer is available, your surgeon and our staff will be masked
- You are required to wear a mask, please bring one with you
- Please call our office if you develop any symptoms or your circumstances change prior to your appointment
- AHS COVID-19 Information: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16997.aspx
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ADDITIONAL COVID-19 Information for Surgery:
By accepting your surgery date you agree to the information in the COVID consent form
All patients are asked to self isolate and/or practice physical distancing for 7 days prior to their surgery date. Information on how to self-isolate may be found at https://www.alberta.ca/isolation.aspx
What You Should Know about Covid-19 and Elective Surgery:
- You can be infected with the coronavirus and not have symptoms of Covid-19.
- Patients infected with the coronavirus at the time of surgery are at higher risk of developing severe pulmonary complications.
- These pulmonary complications are much more common in patients over the age of 70, those with one or more medical co-morbidities (such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and heart and lung disease), and those undergoing major surgery.
- The vast majority of surgeries performed by the Banff Sport Medicine team are not considered major.
- Patients infected with the coronavirus who are undergoing a general anesthetic, as compared to regional anesthetic (such as a spinal anesthetic or nerve block), may spread the virus more easily to health care workers in the OR and may be at higher risk of pulmonary complications.
- Social isolation and wearing masks are effective in limiting the spread of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.
- Currently, asymptomatic testing for Covid-19 in Alberta is only offered by private companies.
What You Can Do to Limit the Risk of Covid-19 Complications after Elective Surgery During the Pandemic:
- Self-Isolate for 7 days prior to, and 7 days after your surgery.
- If unable to self-isolate, wear a mask, wash your hands frequently and maintain a 2 metre distance from people outside your social bubble.
- Notify our office pre-operatively if you have developed Covid-like symptoms or have been a close contact with someone who has Covid-like symptoms or have recently returned from international travel.
- Consider getting a private Covid-19 test if you are older than 60, especially if you have medical co-morbidities and are undergoing a larger operation such as knee multiligament reconstruction or tibial and femoral osteotomy.
Where Can You Access Private Covid-19 Testing:
- One company that provides this service is Ichor Blood Services
The Banff Sport Medicine Team