04/15/2020
In an effort to keep patients and staff safe during the worst of the COVID-19 crisis, I have had to temporarily modify my in-person availability.
MODIFIED OFFICE HOURS: The Santa Ana office is open for emergent or urgent appointments only. The office is staffed by either myself or Dr. Chanes or Dr. Krad Monday-Friday from 8 AM - 12 PM. I am personally in the office one or two mornings each week. The Mission Viejo office is closed.
PHONE HOURS: The front office in Santa Ana is staffed by April, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM. The office is normally closed for lunch 12 - 1 PM. The office number is (714) 557-5777. For urgent matters after-hours or on weekends, existing patients may reach the answering service by calling the office number.
EMERGENCY IN-PERSON APPOINTMENTS: If you have an urgent eye problem, please call the office and speak with April. She will arrange your appointment and request any needed demographic information and insurance authorizations. If you come into the office, your family & friends should wait in their vehicle as the waiting room seating has been modified to allow for required social distancing. Please wear a mask in the building and use the hand sanitizer at the stations in the office upon entering and exiting the office. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever and coughing please do not enter the office. Call the office for advice. If your eye problem is vision-threatening and you also have respiratory symptoms, you may need to be directed to UCI Medical Center or St. Joseph Hospital so that you may receive proper eye care in an environment prepared for COVID-19 care.
EXISTING ROUTINE APPOINTMENTS: March and April routine appointments and elective surgeries have been cancelled. I hope to resume appointments and surgery in May if restrictions are lifted by the State of California.
VIDEO & TELEPHONE APPOINTMENTS: If you have a non-vision threatening eye problem and are interested in a video or telephone consult, please call the office and speak with April. She will verify your demographic, pharmacy, and insurance information then will arrange for me to call you. If you have a cell phone, you are equipped for a video consult. You will receive a text message from me with a link to join me in a video call. Once you click on the link you will enter the video call where I will join you. If you do not have a cell phone then I will call you on the phone but you will need to send good, well-lit, close-up photos of your eye concern so that I may refer to these during the call. My email is cunningham-ahumada@eyemd.care (please note, I do not check this email address regularly so please do not email medical questions, appointment requests, or refill requests to this email)
REFILL REQUESTS: I am available to refill your medication prescribed by me. I respond to electronic refill requests received in the office electronic medical record 2-3 times each week. April receives refill requests from the pharmacy by fax in Santa Ana. Fax number is (714) 557-7710. She will check with me for refill approvals and fax the form back to your pharmacy. During office hours April can accept refill requests by telephone which she will pass on to me for approval. I am unable to refill medication prescribed by your other physicians for your other health problems and ask that you contact them directly for assistance with those medications.
STAY SAFE: Please abide by social distancing recommendations from our state and local Public Health Departments. Wash your hands frequently and don't touch your eyes and face. I look forward to seeing you in the office again soon but don't hesitate to reach out for help with your eye problems in the meantime. I am available to help you.
