Template for Individualized Plan to Re-open Physician Offices - COVID-19 Safety Planning

Sep 1, 2026

Template provides a structured COVID-19 reopening safety plan for physician practices, guiding clinicians to assess workplace transmission risks and document findings. It outlines how to implement protocols that reduce droplet, surface, and person-to-person transmission, including staff training, patient communication, cleaning routines, and revised sick time policies. The template further supports first-level protective measures such as occupancy limits, physical distancing, and work arrangements to minimize contacts.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatDOCX

Pages15

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Step 1: Assess the risks at your workplace

COVID-19 transmission risks to evaluate

When assessment support is needed

Step 2: Implement protocols to reduce the risks

Guidance documents to reference

Staff communication and operational changes

First level protection (elimination)

Establish and post occupancy limits

Reduce people at the office

Maintain physical distance

Template for individualized plan to re-open physician offices This plan first appeared as a template in the Doctor is In Report which can be found on the Doctors of BC Covid-19 page ( HYPERLINK "http://www.doctorsofbc.ca" www.doctorsofbc.ca) It is being provided in word format for physicians to help in prepared individualized plans for practices. Step 1: Assess the risks at your workplace The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads in several ways. It can spread in droplets when a person coughs or sneezes. It can also spread if you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your face. The risk of person-to-person transmission increases the closer you come to other people, the more time you spend near them, and the more people you come near. The risk of surface transmission increases when many people contact the same surface and when those contacts happen over short periods of time. If you are struggling to undertake this assessment, please reach out to WorkSafeBC for assistance. Working with your staff and other team members, discuss the following and document what you find: We have involved frontline workers, supervisors, and the joint health and safety committee (or worker health and safety representative, if applicable). We have identified areas where people gather, such as lunch rooms, exam rooms, waiting rooms and meeting rooms. We have identified job tasks and processes where individuals are close to one another and/or members of the public. We have identified the office, medical and other equipment that staff and team members share while working. We have identified surfaces that people touch often, such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, and light switches. Step 2: Implement protocols to reduce the risks A number of guidance documents are available for community-based physicians to help minimize risks of transmission. These may be updated—or others may be added—in the future: The Provincial Health Officer’s HYPERLINK "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/covid-19/class_order_employers_covid-19_safety_plans_covid-19_may_14_final.pdf" \h order from May 15th. the College’s HYPERLINK "https://www.cpsbc.ca/news/COVID-19-updates/providing-in-person-care" \h Guidance on providing in-person care during COVID-19 the BCCDC’s HYPERLINK "http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Professionals-Site/Documents/COVID19_IPCGuidanceCommunityBasedHCPsClinicSettings.pdf" \h COVID-19: Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Community-Based Physicians, Nursing Professionals and Midwives in Clinic Settings WorkSafeBC’s HYPERLINK "https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/covid-19-updates/covid-19-returning-safe-operation/health-professionals" \h Health Professionals: protocols for returning to operation Help your staff and other team members by ensuring everyone is aware of office protocols and changing practices. Document office protocols in an employee handbook with instruction guides (i.e. scripts for communicating with patients and cleaning protocols—see below) and keep these up to date. Re-evaluate staff sick time policies to prepare for greater absences and align with COVID-19 recommendations. Educate staff on changing office practices and procedures to minimize COVID transmission and exposure (i.e. HYPERLINK "http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Professionals-Site/Documents/COVID-19_MOH_BCCDC_EnvironmentalCleaning.pdf" \h cleaning protocols, altered patient flow) with refresher training as needed. Cross-train staff in essential tasks to prepare for absenteeism. Educate staff on how to communicate the new office protocols to patients (e.g. waiting in their cars or outside staging areas prior to entering the clinic, how to check-in if not in-person, maintaining physical distancing in waiting rooms, calling prior to appointments to inquire about respiratory symptoms, etc.). Review proper office and medical cleaning routines with janitorial staff/contractors. Reduce the

FAQs

What workplace transmission risks should be assessed in this plan?

Assess droplet spread risks, risks from contaminated surfaces, how proximity and time near others increase person-to-person transmission, and how shared frequently-touched surfaces drive surface transmission.

Which types of protocols does the template recommend implementing to reduce risks?

It recommends referencing provincial and clinical guidance documents, training staff on updated practices, revising sick time policies, documenting office protocols in an employee handbook, and updating cleaning and patient flow procedures.

How does the template address first-level protection measures?

It emphasizes elimination-focused steps such as setting and posting occupancy limits, limiting the number of people on site through work-from-home or virtual care, and maintaining physical distancing when possible.

Sep 1, 2026

Upload by Emma Mercer