Covid-19 Response In-Office Protocols

o  After each patient leaves, and before the next patient enters, the following must be disinfected:

• All glasses touched by previous patient (and prior to replacing them on the board);
• Fitting table;
• All automated equipment touched by previous patient, both in the front and exam room

               § Automated refractor

               § OCT

               § Retinal camera

               § Tonometer

• All "sneeze guards" in the exam room

               § Phoropter

               § Slit lamp

• Exam chair

o  Hands will be washed between patients.

o  Patients will be encouraged to use touchless credit cards or insert the credit card chip themselves – to reduce touching surfaces.

o  Air purifier is to be running 24/7.

o  Patients will be informed about office protocols when initially making the appointment, and during the reminder call.

• If a patient feels unwell, or has been exposed to someone who has the virus, we request that (s)he informs us ahead of time, and reschedules her/his examination.
• If a patient has, in the 10 days previous to his/her appointment, visited with people other than those that (s)he lives with, that patient will be rescheduled.  
• Patients will call the office upon arrival and will wait outside until office has been cleaned.  (The receptionist will inform the patient when the office is clean and ready to enter.)
• Patient may enter after being informed and after screening questions have been asked.
• Only one (1) patient at a time – no friends or family (unless the patient is a minor or disabled) 
• Patient’s temperature is taken (with a touchless thermometer) and it is recorded upon entry.   
• Purell is available upon entry.
• All patients must wear a mask -- covering both nose and mouth -- at all times.  Lowering the mask is not permitted.  (Note: if the doctor feels that the patient's mask does not provide sufficient protection, the patient will be required to wear an office-supplied surgical mask.)
• Patient will fill out all requisite forms at the fitting table.
• Patient will not cross behind the fitting tables to look at glasses. The glasses will be brought out to patients at the fitting, so as to avoid extra handling. (All glasses are washed after a patient has touched them.)  
• Patients will be encouraged to use touchless credit cards or insert the credit card chip themselves – to reduce touching surfaces.