20 | EYEWORLD | JUNE/JULY 2020
N
EWS
COVID-19 NEWS YOU CAN USE
by Liz Hillman
Editorial Co-Director
"While we can never be 100% certain in
anything but hindsight, we have targeted resum-
ing elective cases in the first and second weeks
of May and have already started opening up
clinics in limited capacity to see routine medical
evaluations," he told EyeWorld on April 28.
The number of patients seen per hour is
reduced to enhance patient and staff safety.
"We will plan to slowly ramp up volumes
as we work through our new-look clinic sched-
ules, learning as we go about what works and
what doesn't. We've also significantly altered our
patient experience cycle, with almost all infor-
mation exchange (such as obtaining medical his-
tory or providing surgical counseling) occurring
over the phone before and after appointments.
Our hope is that as we proceed through the re-
opening phase, we will optimize these processes
R
eopening ophthalmic practices for
routine clinic visits and elective sur-
geries upon easing of mandates in the
COVID-19 pandemic depended on
various factors: how much the prac-
tice "shut down," practice location,
availability of PPE, etc.
EyeWorld spoke with a few ophthalmolo-
gists before they reopened their practices, gain-
ing insight on actions to safely expand services
and perspectives on how the pandemic could
permanently change their practice.
Brandon Baartman, MD
Vance Thompson Vision
Omaha, Nebraska
Dr. Baartman said his practice worked hard to
predict when the right time to reopen for elec-
tive care would be.
Reopening practices in the
COVID-19 pandemic
continued on page 22
The lobby at Vance Thompson Vision, now devoid of the usual coffee, snacks, and beverages, as well as accent
tables free of reading material and chairs spaced out
Source: Brandon Baartman, MD
