NAAC COVID-19 Safety Protocols

January 15, 2022

Both the WA State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized that the new masking recommendations for people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not apply to health care settings. Thus, all staff, patients, & visitors (> 2 yrs of age) who enter our clinic are still required to wear a mask.  High-grade medical, well-fitting masks (N95, KN95, KF94) are preferred.  We reserve the right to request that you upgrade your mask or double-mask.  A medical mask may be provided (as supplies allow).

Prohibited face coverings include:

  • N95 masks with a valve
  • Scarves
  • Bandanas
  • Neck gaiters

A face covering must:

  • Fit snugly against the sides of the face
  • Completely cover the nose and mouth
  • Be secured with ties, ear loops, elastic bands, or another equally effective method
  • Include at least two layers of material
  • Medical masks are preferred.  Fabric masks should be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape if made of cloth.
  • Be free of holes, tears, or valves that have the potential to release respiratory droplets.

What to expect when you arrive at our clinic:

  • We manage our appointments to allow our staff adequate time to provide care to our patients and disinfect the room after each patient. We may ask you to kindly wait in your car and then call you when we are ready for you.
  • Although WA state no longer has physical distancing requirements, we serve high-risk patients.  Therefore, we have limited our waiting room to 75%  capacity.
  • We have also temporarily removed toys and magazines from our playrooms, waiting rooms, and exam rooms.
  • Please limit the number of visitors coming to our clinics.
    • No siblings of patients
    • Limit one guardian per child. 
  • Although we will no longer be checking the temperature of every visitor, we will continue to be screening visitors & patients.  It is crucial that you answer the questions entirely and follow the given instructions. For one, even mild respiratory symptoms could cause significant health problems for our young & older patients & those with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or are immunocompromised.
  • If you exhibit symptoms during the visit not caused by one of our procedures or are unable to comply with our safety protocols, we may ask you to leave to help protect others.
  • Visitors cannot have pending COVID-19 tests that were taken due to symptoms or exposure to a person who tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Patients and visitors must wear their mask continuously throughout their visit.  Those who refuse to wear a mask will be asked to return home.
  • Visitors may not consume food or beverages in the waiting areas or shared patient spaces or when healthcare workers are present in the patient care space.

Have you recently had a test-verified (PCR, rapid antigen) COVID-19 infection?

If you are not immunocompromised and did not require hospitalization for your COVID-19 infection, regardless of vaccination status:

  • You may come into the office 10 days AFTER the +COVID-19  test or start of symptoms (whichever is the earliest) as long as symptoms are improving and without fever (without fever-reducing medications) for at least 24 hrs.
  • Patients on allergy shots: The same guidance as above but please wait until NOT coughing for at least 1 week.  This additional step is in order to minimize the risk of a shot reaction and is the same recommendation after any recent URI (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection).

Have you OR a close contact* been recently sick (<14 days) with one of the following symptoms?

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath/trouble breathing
  • Fever (>100 F ) or chills
  • Runny nose/nasal congestion
  • Sore throat/headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Muscle aches
  • New onset of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

* Definition of close contact
• Living in the same household as a sick person with such symptoms
• Caring for a sick person
• Being within 6 feet of a sick person for at least 15 minutes cumulatively (does not need to be continuous; e.g., 5-minute periods would count) within a 24 hr-period  within two days before illness onset, regardless of whether the contact was wearing a mask, OR
• Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person (i.e., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.)

If needing to isolate or quarantine or answer YES to any of the questions above, we may be able to offer you a virtual visit instead or need to reschedule your appointment.

  • If you test positive for COVID-19 infection, then please see the guidelines above.
  • If you or your child are a current sick patient and have underlying respiratory disease (i.e., COPD, asthma) and/or immunocompromised, please call our Nurse Line.  You may be given a phone consultation or telemedicine visit or directed to the ER.
  • If you had any recent sick contacts, please schedule for at least 2 wks from the last exposure to the sick contact  & you must be without symptoms (as listed above).

Click for WA COVID-19 testing locations.

Click for information on how to get a COVID-19 vaccine. For King County residents, click for a list of pop-up clinics.

Click for WA DOH resources or call hotlines at WA DOH (800) 525-0127; King County (206) 477-3977.

If you are interested in converting your existing appointment or setting up a telemedicine appointment, please contact our office and read this document to see which forms are needed prior to your appointment.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation!