Since not being fully operational since mid-March due to COVID-19, the 2nd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, is preparing to reopen the dental clinic on Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, using a phased approach to begin completing a backlog of 903 dental exams.
''First, we are going to be catching up on all the annual required dental readiness exams that have been postponed since March,'' said Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Rachel A. Webber, a periodontist with the 2nd OMRS. ''No routine dentistry [e.g., fillings, cleaning] until later, unless it is causing the patient to be dentally nondeployable.''
Upon arrival at the clinic, patients must call and notify the front desk personnel that they have arrived and then wait in their cars. Patients will get a call to come to the front door.
Once at the door, patients are asked to wear a face mask. A dental technician will check the patients' temperature and screen them using a COVID-19 questionnaire. Patients will then immediately be brought back to their treatment room. These procedures are in place to minimize the number of patients in the reception area, Webber explained.
Aside from having patient procedures in place, the dental staff has been preparing each suite for use. Rooms have been inspected, unnecessary items were removed and water lines have been shocked and tested.
''It's good to get back to a workflow and nice to start seeing everybody''' said Air Force Airman 1st Class Bryson T. Raymer, a dental technician at the clinic. ''It's kind of a blessing in a way, because I know people were running out of things to do. I'm happy to be back.''
Although the clinic will have full-day operational hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., it will be operating with a split staff. Half of the dental staff will report in the morning and work in one section of the clinic, while the afternoon staff will work on the opposite side of the clinic. This schedule is designed to help keep everything isolated.
''I'm adjusting and getting back to everything,'' said Air Force Senior Airman Amanda Yeske, a front desk attendant. ''I'm ready to get back into the swing of things.''
(Air Force 2nd Lt. Aileen Lauer is assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing.)