Our Commitment to Safety, Care, and Calm During COVID-19
We understand and share your concerns about the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). During this challenging period, Stepping Stone Clinic will:
- FULLY VACCINATED STAFF
- OFFER VIRTUAL VISITS using our easy-to-use, secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform to keep services ontrack
- IN-PERSON VISITS WITH SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS that keep in mind safety and care
- ADAPT SCHEDULES to better match the real-time demands of patient care, student needs, and employee’s own personal health and family responsibilities
- FULLY VACCINATED STAFF
- OFFER VIRTUAL VISITS using our easy-to-use, secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform to keep services ontrack
- IN-PERSON VISITS WITH SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS that keep in mind safety and care
- ADAPT SCHEDULES to better match the real-time demands of patient care, student needs, and employee’s own personal health and family responsibilities
Secure, HIPAA Compliant Virtual Visits
As has always been our policy, virtual visits are offered to patients and providers who may be feeling ill but able to attend, have transportation issues, live in rural or underserved areas, or are housebound. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth/virtual visits are now being allowed due to school/daycare closures as well. Patients will be offered virtual sessions when they call in, via the reminder call, and in the reminder email. There will also be time blocked in provider schedules for 5 to 10 min check-in calls to help bridge gaps in care, provide patient comfort and calm, and help patients feel more comfortable committing to a few virtual sessions if they are concerned about coming into the clinic.
Special Precautions for COVID-19
The measures we have implemented in accordance with CDC guidelines for in-person services are:
- our staff is fully vaccinated
- using a combination of face guards, masks, sneeze guards, and gloves
- limiting patient capacity
- strict sanitation measures between each patient
- asking everyone, including staff, patients, and visitors to practice social distancing and optionally wear masks in the lobby
- asking patients at heightened risk for COVID infection or those who have had potential exposure in the 14 days prior to take advantage of our telehealth visits rather than coming in to the clinic
For a full list of CDC guidelines, please visit Minnesota Department of Health Guidelines
Scheduling
Providers have specific times for in-clinic appointments while continuing to offer Virtual Visit appointments. The goal is to minimize clinic traffic to protect the health and safety of you, your loved ones and our staff while still providing needed mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attending an appointment in-person implies consent and understanding of the risk of exposure to the coronavirus (or other public health risk). To help minimize such risks, appointments will be scheduled as VIRTUAL VISITS unless otherwise instructed.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN IN-PERSON APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL THE CLINIC AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.