Eyeworld

MARCH 2021 | EYEWORLD | 105 G the LiGHT trial and more readily offer laser to minimize cost, avoid compliance issues, reduce IOP fluctuations, and decrease the total number of visits. I continue to offer telemedicine to pa- tients who are either at a higher risk of develop- ing infection or are not comfortable coming to the hospital." Dr. Francis said he thinks changes in patient numbers and the way practices operate will still be in effect for the foreseeable future. He said his practice has been figuring out how many patients they can have on the schedule and how to space them out to keep the waiting room socially distanced. "We figured out that our time for one patient needs to be less than an hour," he said, from check-in to check-out. Dr. Francis said his practice is operating around 80% volume, which he expects to con- tinue. "We're spacing out appointments a little more," he said, adding that if a patient is stable, he might wait longer between appointments. A time-saving tip Dr. Francis offered is to plan and prepare which tests will be performed before the patient comes in rather than on the spot. "Teamwork among our administrative staff, ophthalmic technicians, and physicians has been of paramount importance in instituting infec- tion control measures and maintaining a safe and reassuring environment for our patients," she said. "Many modifications to the delivery of glaucoma care, such as those we have incorpo- rated at NYEE, will remain in place indefinitely as part of this 'new normal.'" Dr. Salim has found that her clinical and surgical volume has decreased. "With increased resurgence of COVID-19 cases, many patients are either canceling appointments or not show- ing up to their scheduled visits," she said. "We have a system in place to reach out to these patients to offer telemedicine to ensure continu- ity of their care. With time, we hope that more patients will keep their clinic appointments." Dr. Salim is scheduling in-person appoint- ments further out for patients with stable disease. For advanced glaucoma patients, more frequent follow-up is still warranted. "I am doing more 90-day prescription refills for patients already on medications," she said. "For the new patients, I discuss details of Relevant disclosures Francis: None Salim: Aerie Pharmaceuticals Singh: Carl Zeiss Meditec Vinod: None How has COVID-19 impacted training programs in the United States? Dr. Salim discussed how the pandemic affected medical students, residents, and fellows. During the height of the pandemic, many rotations for medical students were canceled, and many academic centers stopped electives for out-of-state students. "As a result, many students were not able to acquire the typical clinical and research experiences, find mentors to provide career counseling or write letters of recommendation, or explore programs for residency," Dr. Salim said. "These limita- tions also presented challenges for educators in terms of screening the most qualified candidates for their specialties." With decreased clinical volume, the surgical experience was affected for many residents and fellows. However, Dr. Salim said that the didactic lectures increased. "It has been wonderful to witness in- creased communication and collaboration across various academic programs." Some fellows had difficulty securing a good job while others faced delays in their start dates with new employment, she said, adding that some had to work around the negotiations of original con- tracts given the profound impact of COVID-19 on practices. "Despite numerous challenges, I think COVID-19 has pushed us to think differently. We are develop- ing innovative methods and solutions to educate and certify the next generation of physicians," Dr. Salim said. "I have had the privilege to serve as an examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmol- ogy for the past several years. The virtual oral board exams were highly successful this year and also cost effective. Both the candidates and examiners participated in the exams over the weekends and did not have to take time off from their clinical responsibilities." Contact Francis: bfrancis@doheny.org Salim: ssalim@tuftsmedicalcenter.org Singh: ipsingh@amazingeye.com Vinod: kate.vinod@gmail.com

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