As always, we are taking every precaution to keep you and our staff as safe as possible during the current COVID-19 situation. We ask that you please observe the following to help protect the health and safety of everyone and are very grateful for your cooperation:  

• Please wear a mask upon entering the building.
• If possible, please come to a visit by yourself and leave other family members either at home or in the waiting area. Patients under 18 may bring one parent/guardian. 
• If, on the day of your appointment, you have any of the following symptoms, please call our office to discuss the plan for your visit: Cough, difficulty breathing, chills, fever, earache, sore throat, body aches, headaches, diarrhea, or new loss of taste or smell. 

In the Dental Clinical Areas:

• The clinical staff may appear to be dressed differently as we are required to wear a higher level of protective gear (gowns, face shields, and special masks).
• We will be using a new disinfecting oral rinse that will be administered before the procedure begins.
• Your visit may seem louder than usual, because we will be starting to use some new devices with the purpose to help disinfect the air. 

We apologize for the inconvenience of these measures. We hope that you understand the need for these guidelines and that we are staying abreast of all scientific information that informs these decisions. 

Please note, we are following current CDC guidelines for COVID-19 precautions.

If you have been told that you should self-quarantine because of travel or a potential exposure, you should not be seen in our office for any reason, even if you do not have any symptoms.

As state-wide recommendations regarding the spread of COVID-19 change, we continue to modify our delivery of care appropriately.

Please click here for information specific to our dental services.

Please click here for information regarding vaccines.

CHC offers free rapid/antigen test kits at all locations as supplies are available.

If You Test Positive

Stay home for five days if… you are experiencing mild symptoms such as cough, fatigue, changes to taste or smell, body aches, headache, sore throat, stuffy nose, nausea and/or diarrhea; have had a close contact exposure; or have tested positive without symptoms. If you are feeling the same or better after five days, you may resume your normal activity as long as you be sure to wear a mask when around others until 10 days have passed.

Testing

If you are a CHC patient with significant COVID-related symptoms, please call to schedule a telehealth visit with your provider for evaluation. They will order a COVID test if necessary and you will receive those results from your CHC care team. We also have at-home antigen test kits available at all locations, just ask a staff member.

If you are experiencing mild symptoms or have had an exposure and are not experiencing symptoms, we ask that you please stay home and try to get a home antigen test. Antigen tests can be found at many convenience stores, grocery stores and pharmacies. Please report your results here to help the Department of Health understand how many Vermonters are being tested and how the virus is spreading. The information you provide will remain private. The Vermont Language Justice Project has created videos in multiple languages to help understand the self-test instructions.

What to Expect at Your Visit

We continue to check the temperatures and ask several screening questions of all patients and staff entering our buildings. You will be screened by a Patient Services Representative when you check-in for your appointment.

• Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will be asked to return to their vehicle for an evaluation by phone or at curbside if needed. Patients may be moved from a curbside visit to a designated room as needed.
• Masks are still required in shared spaces, even if you are fully vaccinated. If you do not have one, you will be given a disposable or cloth mask to use for the duration of your visit.
• We are asking everyone to practice physical distancing and to be especially mindful of allowing at least six feet of space between yourself and others in the waiting room.
• At this time, patients should come into the building alone. Children may have one parent or guardian, and translators will be allowed to accompany patients with Limited English Proficiency.

New Additional Visit Types

After you have been triaged over the phone, you will be instructed to either schedule a telehealth visit or come to one of our open locations if an office visit is recommended. If you are exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 you may be scheduled for a curbside visit. When arriving for a curbside visit, you will park in a clearly designated spot and complete your intake by phone. Your provider will then come out to your car in full Personal Protective Gear to complete the exam. Exceptions will be made for anyone without a car or in need of lab work that requires being done inside.

Continued Best Practices to Stay Safe

Download a printable Fight’s Not Finished flyer: English or multi-language translations

Practice physical distancing as best you can, wear a mask while out in public, and continue to take action to help prevent the spread of respiratory illness by following the below guidelines. This will keep health care resources available for those with the most need and not overburden systems. 

Translated Materials

Up-to-date information via the Vermont Department of Health has been translated into multiple languages.

Additionally,  community members have created a YouTube channel of COVID-19 information in different languages.

In light of the current outbreak of COVID-19, our donation needs are currently focused on the below items. In keeping with social distancing best practices, please do not show up with donations unannounced! Contact Janine at jfleri@chcb.org to coordinate. Thank you for thinking of our staff and patients at this critical time.

General Clinical Needs

• Medical Masks: N-95 as well as yellow/blue paper masks
• Cloth Masks: Adult and Children’s sizes
• Reusable or disposable yellow long sleeve gowns
• Rubber gloves of all sizes
• Shoe covers aka “booties”
• Plastic face shields
• Plastic goggles
• Oral thermometers and probe covers
• “No touch” forehead thermometers
• Tympanic (ear) thermometers and probe covers
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Boxes of tissues
• Sanitizing wipes – bleach based (gold top containers) or isopropyl alcohol based (70% or higher, purple tops), and hand sanitizer wipes (blue tops)
• Medical grade disinfectant spray (i.e. Citrace)

Homeless Healthcare Program Needs

Our patients experiencing homelessness are especially vulnerable, and camping is a safer option for social distancing than staying in a shelter. We would be incredibly grateful for donations of the following for this patient population:

• Camping gear – tents, tarps, sleeping bags, sunscreen, and especially bug spray/insect repellant! We go through twice as much bug spray as sunscreen.
• No-substance (meaning they cannot be used for tobacco or alcohol) gift cards for food stores. Hannaford is a convenient option for many of our patients.
• Working and unlocked tablets and smart phones to help patients experiencing homelessness access telehealth visits.

We’d like to remind our patients that all CHCB locations are to be free of tobacco and nicotine products. This includes cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and all vaping products. This policy extends not only to the exterior of our buildings, but parking areas including the Riverside garage and waiting rooms as well. Thank you for your cooperation!