COVID-19 Safety Precautions at Insight

With direction given by the Alberta Chief Medical Officer, and to ensure the safety of our patients and employees, we have initiated specific safety precautions at all Insight Medical Imaging locations.

To help maintain the health of our facilities, we ask that patients who meet any of the following criteria rebook their appointment immediately:

• Been in close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19
  
• Travelled outside the country within the last 14 days & are required to be in a 14-day quarantine post-travel

Appointments can be rescheduled by calling our Central Booking department at 780-669-2222.

Exceptions may be made for essential workers required to travel for work including truck drivers, import/export personnel, police, air travel personnel, etc. For a complete list of essential services, click here.

All Insight Medical Imaging locations have signs posted outside each facility. We ask that all clinic visitors read the signage and adhere to the guidelines.

Non-symptomatic patients, symptomatic patients, and patients with chronic conditions or long-standing symptoms will be accepted at all of our clinics. This includes chronic cough, allergies, sinusitis, COPD, asthma, hypertension, etc. We just ask that you please mention this condition at the time of booking.

We are continuing to abide by proper social/physical distancing requirements by having visual markers on the floor of all clinics for when patients are waiting to be checked in and having all chairs in the waiting room appropriately spaced out.

Additionally, in order to keep a clean work environment for everyone inside our facility, all exam rooms will be sanitized between each patient, and high touch surfaces in common areas will be cleaned frequently.

As of December 15, 2021, all staff, students, volunteers, and contractors will either be fully vaccinated or have provided a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of them being on Insight premises.

Visitors

Due to social distancing, only the patient will be allowed in the exam room, with the exception of obstetric ultrasounds. If you are scheduled for an obstetric ultrasound, one additional masked individual may accompany you for part of your exam. Other exceptions may be made in cases where a child is the patient or support individuals are needed to assist the patient.

When possible, we ask that visitors please wait in their cars, or elsewhere, until the patient is done their exam. Exceptions may be made in cases where a child is the patient or support individuals are needed to assist the patient.

Masks

As stated by Alberta Health Services, masks are very important for specific situations. When someone is sick, wearing a mask may help prevent the transmission of illness to other people.

On March 8, 2022, the City of Edmonton repealed its mask bylaw. As Insight is a medical facility, and our exams are short, we will continue to request masking at all of our clinics for the duration of the exam.

Only non-medical masks, cloth masks, and approved medical masks will be accepted in our facilities. As per AHS guidelines, Insight will no longer be permitting masks with exhalation valves. Patients may wear a procedure mask we provide or wear a procedure mask on top of their mask with exhalation valves.

Exceptions to this policy are outlined below:

• Patients with documentation from a physician (M.D. or D.O.) that exempts them from wearing a mask
•  Children
  • Children’s sized masks will be available to increase masking compliance
  • Consider other means of shielding if masking is not an option (i.e. a towel for them to cough into, cuddling their parent, using a blanket/stuffed animal, etc.)

In addition to social distancing and hand hygiene practices, this precaution can help in decreasing the spread of COVID-19.

Wait In Car Policy

To further ensure the safety of all staff, patients, and visitors to our clinics, once you have checked in for your exam you may be asked to wait in your car until we are ready to take you into the exam room.

As our clinics have a maximum patient capacity in the waiting rooms, this is being implemented in an effort to comply with social distancing requirements.

After checking in, patients will be asked to wait in their car, if our waiting room is at capacity, and will be alerted via text or phone call when it is time for their appointment. At that time, we ask that patients please proceed to the clinic in a timely manner.

Note: Please do not respond to the automated text as this may inadvertently cancel your exam.

Moving Forward

The safety of our employees and our patients is our top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. As this is an ever-changing matter, we have a dedicated team in place monitoring recommendations made by appropriate organizations. Our team has been following recommendations from Alberta Health Services (AHS), World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR), the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) and Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer.

As the situation progresses, our standards and requirements are subject to change based on updates from the government and the health organizations listed above.

However, one standard that will not change is our dedication to patient care. We will continue to work with our patients, referring physicians, and fellow employees throughout this challenging time. We promise to continue to work hard so that all exams are done with the utmost care and compassion while results are provided in a timely and accurate manner.

If you have any questions or concerns about your appointment, please contact Central Booking at 780-669-2222. For more information about the virus, resources, and frequently asked questions, please see below.

FAQ’s Provided by AHS & the WHO

What is Coronavirus?
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that may cause respiratory illness in people ranging from the common cold to more severe pneumonias. These viruses are zoonotic and can be transmitted between animals and humans.

What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is the new strain of the coronavirus not previously identified in humans. The outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms for COVID-19 are similar to those for influenza or other respiratory illnesses. The most common symptoms include:

• Fever
• A new cough or a chronic cough that is worsening
• New or worsening shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Most people (about 80%) recover from this disease without needing special treatment. However, it can cause serious illness. Those who are older, and those with other medical problems are more likely to develop serious illness, which can include difficulty breathing or pneumonia. There is a risk of death in severe cases. While we are still learning about how COVID-19 affects people, older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) appear to develop serious illness more often than others.

How is COVID-19 spread from person to person?
COVID-19 is transmitted through tiny doplets of liquid produced by people who have the virus, and then spread from person-to-person by:

• Coughing, sneezing, talking, laughing, and singing
• Touching objects or surfaces the virus has landed on and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth

Should I wear a mask to protect myself?

Masks should be used as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission and save lives; the use of a mask alone is not sufficient to provide an adequate level of protection against COVID-19.

What steps should I take if I’m experiencing symptoms of COVID-19?

• Isolate
• Do not attend work, school, social events, or any other public gathering
• Don’t share personal items like dishes, utensils, or towels
• Wash your hands often
• Avoid close contact with other people
• Do not visit a hospital, physician’s office, lab, or healthcare facility without consulting your doctor or Health Link (811) first
• Stay home for a minimum of 10 days with any cold or flu symptoms until feeling well
• If symptoms continue past 10 days, isolation should as well
• If you have life-threatening symptoms, go to an emergency department or call 911

What does self-isolation mean?
Self-isolation means avoiding situations where you could infect other people. This means all situations where you may come in contact with others, such as social gatherings, work, school, child care, athletic events, university, faith-based gatherings, healthcare facilities, grocery stores, restaurants, shopping malls, and all public gatherings.

• You should (where possible) not use public transportation, including buses, taxis, or ride-sharing
• As much as possible, you should limit contact with people other than the family members/companions who you traveled with
• You should avoid having visitors to your home, but it is okay for friends, family, or delivery drivers to drop off food
• You can also use delivery or pick-up services for errands such as grocery shopping
• Avoid sharing household items such as dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, pillows, or other items with other people in your home. After using these items, you should wash them thoroughly with soap and water, place in the dishwasher for cleaning, or wash in the washing machine.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water and regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched and shared surfaces such as doorknobs and counters
• If you need to leave your home for an urgent errand, such as picking up essential medication, as a precaution to reduce the risk of spread, you should wear a surgical mask while you are out
• During this time, it is important that you monitor your health for symptoms like fever or cough and call Health Link 811 if you have any concerns

Are there vaccines to prevent COVID-19?
Yes. View Alberta’s COVID-19 vaccine program by clicking here. 

Who is most at risk of becoming very sick with COVID-19?
Although most people who develop COVID-19 will experience mild illness, some individuals are more likely to become seriously ill. Older adults and people with medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease appear to be at higher risk of becoming very sick.

Additional COVID-19 Resources and Information

1. World Health Organization (WHO): Coronaviruses (COVID-19) Q&A
2. Government of Canada: COVID-19 Updates, Travel Advice, Symptoms, & More
3. Alberta Health Services: Novel Coronavirus Updates, Latest News & Info For Albertans
4. Health Link 24/7: Contact Info

References

1. AHS Emergency Coordination Centre. (2020). Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs for the public. Retrieved from https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-ncov-2019-public-faq.pdf
2. World Health Organization. (2020). Q&A on Coronavirus (COVID-19). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses