AANEM Connect

In various Maryland medical institutions, the degree of testing for Covid 19 before surgeries and diagnostic procedures varies greatly from one institution to another. With most surgical procedures patients are required to have a PCR test done during the week prior to their surgery, and they are asked to isolate themselves after their test until their surgery is done. Patients having MRI or other imaging procedures are not usually required to have any testing done, and are simply asked basic questions about Covid exposure, and their temperature is measured on arrival at the facility. Inside the facility, no procedures seem to be taken other than everyone wearing facemasks. In our office we perform only electromyography and nerve conduction studies. All patients are required to have a PCR 19 study done prior to being seen, but we do not require the patient to isolate themselves after this is done. We have turned away patients who arrived without having been tested. During the procedure I wear gown, mask, shield, head cover and gloves on each patient and even though the COVID-19 test is negative, I assume that the patient could have been  infected after the test was done.I suppose I am halfway between the surgical procedure and the imaging studies with regard to precautions. I wonder how others are handling safety precautions now that we are much further into the pandemic then earlier this year. Patients wonder why I am being so strict, but since we spend so much time in close quarters with the patients, I believe our degree of caution is appropriate.