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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, regardless if you have had the vaccine.
• 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