1. Screen patients when scheduling appointments. Whenever possible, patients suspected of carrying a transmittable respiratory infection should be scheduled at the end of the day.
2. Quickly triage patients suspected of carrying a transmittable respiratory infection out of common waiting room areas.
3. Make waterless, alcohol-based hand antiseptics and disposable surgical masks available to all patients. Ask patients suspected of carrying transmittable respiratory infections to wear a mask and use the hand-sanitizer immediately upon entering the clinic and again before seeing a physician or nurse.
4. Close the door of exam rooms to limit access to the patient by visitors and staff members.
5. Indicate patients known to be carriers of antibiotic resistant organisms in their medical record, and take special care to prevent the spread of these organisms, including disinfecting all surfaces that have been in direct contact with the patient immediately after a visit.
6. Use routine infection control practices (hand-washing, sanitizing surfaces, and using personal protective equipment) with all patients, regardless of presumed infection or diagnosis.