22 | EYEWORLD | JUNE/JULY 2020
N
EWS
COVID-19 NEWS YOU CAN USE
Dr. Baartman said the thinking of "before
and after COVID" should be more "before and
with COVID." Many changes as a result of the
pandemic will be in place for as long as it takes
for new cases to significantly diminish, which
might occur with vaccine development.
"We should be prepared by making sure
our changes are sustainable solutions that are
both effective and not onerous to implement,"
he said.
Nicole Fram, MD
Advanced Vision Care
Los Angeles, California
When Dr. Fram spoke with EyeWorld on April
24, California's governor had just reinstated
allowance of elective surgery in hospitals. Dr.
Fram said ASCs would follow.
"The whole question is can we get enough
PPE and safely care for patients. That's the
biggest issue," she said.
to create a sustainable program that benefits us
even after the immediate threat of the pandem-
ic eases," he said.
Upon arrival to the parking lot, patients are
asked to call staff for admittance, and guests
who accompany patients are asked to wait in
the car. Staff and patients are screened with
questions and a temperature check upon entry
to the clinic, and the practice has a reusable
cloth mask program for all individuals onsite
with "meticulous disinfection protocols to make
sure we are minimizing risks with each patient
interaction."
"All sites have placed slit lamp shields to
add a layer of protection and have advised pa-
tients that examinations will be performed with
only necessary conversation taking place. With
most of the history being obtained prior to the
visit and much of the counseling taking place
afterward, we are able to then limit how much
face-to-face time is spent talking with patients,"
Dr. Baartman said.
continued from page 20
Contact
Baartman: brandon.baartman
@vancethompsonvision.com
Fram: nicfram@yahoo.com
Loh: jenniferlohmd@gmail.com
Relevant disclosures
Baartman: None
Fram: None
Loh: None
Vance Thompson Vision has placed barriers/breath shields on anything with oculars, including slit lamps and
diagnostic and treatment devices.
Source: Brandon Baartman, MD
