In accordance with Sacramento County’s Public Health Office guidelines, starting May 4^th, our office will resume routine care for our patients.  We are dedicated to providing you quality care while ensuring you and your loved ones remain safe.  In order to do so, we have adopted the following protocols:

GENERAL OFFICE

• All people are to wear a face covering while in the office; this applies to all staff and all patients.
  • Patients may wear a covering from home.
  • Patients will be asked to use hand sanitizer when they enter the office as well as various times throughout the exam process.
• Minimize unnecessary contact:
  • Added physical barrier at front desk to separate staff and patients.
  • Aim to maintain six feet of separation between staff and patients at the front desk.
  • Use tape (or like) to mark a six-foot distance line on the floor.
  • Requesting patients come to office unaccompanied unless it is necessary that you have a guardian/ambulatory help.
  • To avoid crowding the waiting room, Patients are asked to wait in their car, if possible, until they can proceed to an exam room.
  • We have removed any unnecessary “high touch” items, such as magazines or toys in the reception area.
  • Stagger appointments to minimize patient overlap.
• Limit non-essential visits by external partners and vendors; continuing to substitute in-person visits with FaceTime, Zoom, or Google Hangout meetings.

OPTICAL AREA

• Added physical barrier at dispensary tables to separate staff and patients.
• Ask patients to use hand sanitizer before trying on frames.
• Only staff is to pull frames from our frame boards.
• All frames that have been handled by patients or staff will be cleaned appropriately based on material sensitivity and manufacturer’s recommendations.
• After use, all trays will be cleaned with Pure&Clean, an alcohol-based cleaner or another appropriate disinfectant.
• Limit number of patients in the dispensary area so that they may maintain six feet of separation.

STAFF GUIDELINES

• Do not come into the office if feeling symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath).
• Staff to have temperature taken, report on symptoms daily, and document on a symptom checklist for the office.
• All staff to wear a face covering while in the office (e.g. surgical mask, fabric mask, best available).
• Wear gloves (when available).
  • Put on a new pair of gloves if coming into direct contact with a patient.
  • If no physical contact with patient, may use hand sanitizer in between different tasks.
  • Change gloves if become soiled/ripped.
  • Change gloves if leaving the office, eating lunch, restroom, etc.
  • Practice hand hygiene after removing gloves.
• Staff will change their face covering if it becomes soiled or if they meet a symptomatic person.
• Minimize touching the face covering and limit frequent removal of the same covering.
• To further reduce any minimal risk of contamination on clothing, staff recommended to change clothes at the end of the day before they leave or as soon as they arrive home (i.e. do not go run errands while wearing the clothes worn in the office).
• Practice hand hygiene frequently, including upon arrival and leaving the office.
• Where possible, maintain six feet separation among staff members.

PATIENT APPOINTMENTS

Prior to patient appointment:

• Contact patient to ask about symptom and exposure status.
• Reschedule appointments for patients who have had symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) within the past 72 hours.
• Reschedule appointments for patients who have potentially been exposed to COVID-19, if they fit the criteria for self isolation per CDC guidelines.
• Inform patient about need to wear a face covering to the appointment.
• Inform patient of our Optomap on everyone policy. (We are temporarily introducing a COVID-19 discount that reduces the copayment to $20 from $39)
• Ask patient to call when they arrive in the parking lot to check-in over the phone.

When patient arrives for appointment:

• Ask about symptoms and exposure status; reschedule appointments per guidelines above.
• Check temperature prior to admittance into the office.
• Encourage hand hygiene upon arrival.

CLEANING PROCEDURES

Cleaning procedures are to be followed daily, with a weekly focus on deeper cleaning. Procedures are in addition to opening and closing daily checklist. “High-touch” areas may need to be cleaned more than once per day.

Clean all surfaces that have been touched throughout the day with an approved disinfectant:

• Technology
  • Keyboards, monitors, and mouse
  • Tablets
  • Pin pads
  • Phones
  • Smart shopper displays
• OD technical/medical equipment, per the manufacturer recommendations
• Dispensing and shopping trays
• Dispensing tables and optical tools
• Product fixtures
• Light switches
• Doorknobs and locks
• Cash drawers
• Lab equipment
• Furniture in OD space (exam chairs, file cabinets, ink pens, etc.)

Thank you for your understanding of our new safety measures.  Please see our FAQs for more information.  As always, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us.

(916) 421-1278