Virginia Eyecare Center Office COVID-19 Protocol

(as of 03/17/2020, this will continue to be updated)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SCHEDULING

If a patient calls to order a supply of contact lenses, please try to do a direct ship to the patients. We want to minimize the number of patients that come into the office for pick-ups.

Sick patients should not come into the office and should be rescheduled.

Patients should limit how many people they bring with them to their appointment. Ideally, patients should come alone to minimize the number of people in the office. Obviously, a minor will need to have a parent with them, and some patients need a caregiver.

If a patient or immediate family member has been out of the country in the past 4 weeks, we would prefer to schedule their appointment at least 4 weeks from now.

SANITIZATION
A) Personal cleanliness, EVERYONE
i) Wash hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 sec (e.g.: sing happy birthday twice).
ii) Wash your hands before eating, after using the restroom, sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose.
iii) Do not touch your face or eyes without washing hands.
iiii) Use disinfectant when it is not possible to wash your hands.
iv) Cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze with a tissue, discard the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.

B) Disinfect hard surfaces morning, midday and evening, as well as after any encounter with that surface. During the day …
i) If the surface is dirty, use detergent or soap and water to clean, discard paper towel
ii) After dirt is removed, use Pure and Clean to clean all hard surfaces.
iii) Clean all computer keyboards in all offices morning, midday and evening.
iiii) Assure patients you disinfect after every patient.

FRONT OFFICE:

A) Wipe down all surfaces morning, midday and evening plus before each patient encounter.
B) Eliminate all clutter on front desk (it will be easier to clean).
C) Eliminate all bowls of mints or candy.
D) Eliminate pens from cups. All pens are to be sanitized in front of the patient and then given to the patient. After they sign in, the pen is again sanitized.

E) Clean the stair rail several times/day

OPTOMETRIC TECHNICIANS

A) Greet patients verbally, but do not shake hands.
B) In exam rooms, use Pure and Clean to wipe down the equipment in front of each patient.
C) Clean door knobs to all exam rooms before each patient encounter.

D) Sanitize Exam chairs mid-day and evening, sanitize exam chair arm rests in between each patient

OPTICIANS
A) Disinfect all optician desk surfaces before or after each patient, share with the patient. (Eliminate all clutter on optician surfaces, it will be easier to disinfect.)
B) Sanitize all eyewear before handing the frame to the patient.
C) Sanitize the pupillometer in front of the patient before taking a measurement.

DOCTORS
A) Declutter all exam rooms
C) Wash/Disinfect hands before and after the patient encounter in front of the patient.

D) Don’t shake hands.

RESTROOMS
A) Self-Care – every employee must leave the restroom as clean as possible – do not leave anything for someone else to clean.
B) Clean the sink and floor if necessary.
C) Designated person(s) will clean morning, midday and evening.

PROTOCOL FOR PROTECTION
A) NEW GREETING
i) No handshakes or hugs.

B) WHAT TO DO IF A PATIENT IS ILL
i) If they show up ill, reschedule them. “I am so sorry you are not feeling well, to protect you and all of our patients, let me reschedule your appointment.”
ii) Anyone calling to cancel because they are ill say, “Thank you for calling us, we are happy to reschedule you for when you feel better. There will be no charges for last minute cancellations due to illness.”

C) WHAT TO DO IF AN EMPLOYEE IS ILL
i) If you have any of the following symptoms: fever, body aches sore throat, or cough, do not come into the office. It is better to be overly cautious. If you come in ill, you will be sent home, no exceptions.