05/07/2020
To My Wonderful Patients,
I want to thank you for your understanding during this difficult time. I know many of you are waiting to get your routine eye care scheduled, and we are working hard to re-open in a safe way to provide care to you.
I wanted to take a moment to tell you about the steps we are taking in the clinic to protect our patients, our team here in the optical, and all of our families, while still providing an excellent patient experience. After consulting and receiving communication from The American Optometric Association, The Michigan Optometric Association, Physicians specializing in Infectious Disease throughout the state, the World Health Organization, and the Center for Disease Control, we have put together some new protocols in the optical.
Your visit may look a little different than what you are used to, but these new practices will help to keep everyone safe. Rest assured that we are monitoring the pandemic closely. We will continue to make changes if necessary as the situation progresses.
Here are some of the changes we are implementing in an effort to keep everyone safe and provide you with a smooth and comfortable visit:
New Technology: The First in Michigan!
I have outfitted my office with digital refractive (Marco Infinity 6100 Digital Refraction Technology) and digital ocular health equipment. This new technology will help maintain a safe distance from patients while checking for glasses and assessing ocular health. Certain procedures we used to do in the office next to each other will now be able to be performed remotely from the next room (e.g., your refraction to determine your prescription).
COVID screening:
Patients will be asked questions, screening for exposure and transmission.
Upon arriving in the optical, patients’ temperature will be taken. If their temperature is 100.4 or above, the patient will be rescheduled for 14 days later.
If you have previously tested positive or have been presumptive positive for covid-19 (meaning you had the symptoms but were unable to be tested), we ask that you wait 14 days after your last symptoms before scheduling an appointment, except in ocular emergencies.
We have installed plastic barriers at certain points around the optical where it is difficult to maintain appropriate social distancing.
I have upgraded my records system to go completely paperless, in order to decrease the amount of items that change hands between people. This means we will ask you to fill out your patient history form online before you visit us.
Limiting the number of people in the office:
We will allow 1 patient in the exam room at a time. If that patient is under the age of 18 or in need of assistance, then 1 more person (parent, guardian, or person to assist) will be admitted in the exam room to help them.
We will decrease the amount of patients seen in a day, and schedule high-risk populations first thing in the morning.
Patients will be seen by appointment only. We will not be able to see walk-ins at this time.
Social distancing rules:
When seeing patients in the exam room, it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing. For these times, I will be using a mask, face shield, and gloves. I have also outfitted certain machines with plastic shields for additional protection.
The exam room is small. In order to keep everyone safe, we will require patients to wear a mask while in the exam room. Patients are requested to bring a mask from home. If a patient does not have one, we will provide a face cover for them at the office. Based on recommendations from the sources listed above, I am afraid it is not safe to see patients who are not wearing a mask at this time. Please note the mask must cover your nose and mouth during the entire exam.
Increased use of Telehealth:
We are upgrading our Electronic Medical Records System to include secure telehealth technology. The MOA and AOA recommend using telehealth in the effort to decrease the possibility of spreading the coronavirus. We are already scheduling patients for telehealth visits for certain issues like, “red-eye” visits, uncomplicated contact lens checks, home-based vision therapy, and questions for the doctor. Please call 989-772-1704 to set this up.
As many of you know, we are following Michigan’s executive order and recommendations from the WHO and CDC, and are currently seeing emergency and urgent care only. If you have an urgent eye issue, break a pair of glasses, or run out of contacts, please call us at 989-772-1704. I am utilizing telehealth when I can for these visits, and am seeing many of my patients this way. Exams for routine eye care is still not recommended at this time. But, we are monitoring the pandemic very closely and will update our patients as soon as we begin routine care again. We will also prioritize patients who have urgent medical needs to be seen first in the office.
I will be setting up a new website soon that will allow for better communication between our patients and myself. But for now, please consult our Facebook website page for any updates. If you have an eye issue that needs urgent care, please call our office at 989-772-1704, and we will assess whether we can see you via telehealth or in the optical. Right now, Sam’s Club optical is open between 10 am to 2 pm daily, with special hours for the elderly or immunocompromised from 7 am to 10 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays so you may need to leave a message but we will get back to you. You are also welcome to message me on Facebook.
Please know that we are open and seeing patients who need us for urgent care issues, or for telehealth. We have some challenges that we have to work with, but we will get through this together and begin caring for all of our patients as soon as we can. We are going above and beyond for the safety of our patients, our team, our families, and our community. Thank you for helping us by being understanding and by being part of our team in our mission to keep everyone safe.
If you have any questions, please call our office at 989-772-1704 or feel free to message me through Facebook.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Bennett
