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Social Distancing, Protection & Safety Precautions at Your Upcoming Visit to Eye Surgeons of Worcester

What to Expect Regarding Social Distancing Protection & Safety Precautions

When You Arrive

  1. When you arrive in the parking lot at Eye Surgeons of Worcester, please call the office phone number that you were given when you made the appointment and tell us that you have arrived. A Front Desk staff member will ask that you please tell us if you or a family member that you live with has or has had within the last 14 days a) a fever or respiratory symptoms such as a cough or shortness of breath, b) any flu or cold-like symptoms such as muscle aches, a sore throat or a runny nose, c) any digestive issues such as a lack of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea, d) a recent loss of taste or smell, e) any unusual bruising especially on your toes, f) traveled out of state or g) been tested for COVID-19. You will also be asked where you work and to please tell us if you work in what is considered a “high COVID-19” risk environment.
  2. Our Front Desk staff will then ask you if you have a protective mask and to please wear it prior to entering the building. This mask should cover your nose and mouth. Please let us know if you do not own your own mask and please do not remove your mask at any time after you have come into the office.
  3. Over the phone while you remain outside of the building our Front Desk staff member will perform our regular “check-in process” with you. For example you will be asked to confirm your address, telephone number and your insurance information, etc. If a co-payment is due we ask that you are prepared to pay that in advance with a credit card before you enter the building.
  4. Our Front Desk staff member will then transfer you to a Clinical staff member who will ask you questions that will get you ready for your eye exam with your doctor prior to you ever entering our office. Our Clinical staff member may ask you for your telephone number so that when we call you we can escort you directly into one of our exam rooms.
  5. We ask that you please knock on our entry door as it will be locked and one of our staff members will let you into the building. There will be a dispenser of hand sanitizer. Please take a small amount and thoroughly rub it on your hands and allow it to dry.
  6. Our staff member will take your temperature using a thermometer that does not touch your forehead or face. If you have no temperature you will then be escorted to an exam room or asked to wait in our waiting area which has chairs placed in the appropriate 6 feet distance to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
  7. And, please remember to continually wear your mask in any of our offices.
  8. We also ask that you keep speaking to a minimum throughout your visit and refrain from using your cell phone while in our office.

When You Step Into the Examination Area

  1. You may be accompanied directly from the front entrance, immediately, to a testing room or exam room, or you may have a brief wait in a waiting area. If you are asked to step up to our Front Desk area for any reason a staff member will wipe and clean the counter area with a disinfecting wipe that might have a mild odor of bleach or Clorox. We do this for everyone’s protection and do not mean to be offensive.
  2. If it is necessary for you to sit in a waiting area the chairs will be spaced appropriately for social distancing. Please do not move the chair as the seating area has been arranged for everyone’s protection. Our waiting room chairs are wiped down regularly and after every use. We do this for everyone’s protection and do not mean to be offensive.
  3. Each testing room instrument is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each patient has stepped out of the room, regardless of whether testing equipment was used or not.
  4. All exam room surfaces, instruments and computers are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each patient has stepped out the room, regardless of whether the devices were used or not.
  5. Expect the doctors and some staff to be wearing a specialized form fitting N95 mask to protect both you, and them, from risk of infection. Again, it is expected that you will wear either a cloth face covering or surgical mask throughout your examination visit.
  6. In addition, depending on how close your doctor may need to be to provide your exam and possible treatment, he or she may be wearing protective eyewear, goggles or even a clear plastic shield to protect both you and them.
  7. Your eye exam typically involves the use of a slit lamp microscope. We have installed plastic barriers or breath shields on them to prevent spraying of tiny moisture particles which could lead to infection. To further avoid infection we ask that you do not speak when behind the slit lamp. Our doctors will be limiting their speaking as well. They will move far back and create a safe distance to speak about your eyes and their recommendations.

When You Are Leaving Our Office

  1. When your exam is complete, you will be escorted by the doctor and you will be able to directly leave the building.
  2. All of our processes have been created with our patient’s and staff’s protection in mind. By conducting some of our steps from the comfort of your car and by directly taking you to an exam room (or having you wait in our arranged waiting area) we have made your time in the office shorter and kept your direct contact with staff members to a minimum.

Thank You! We appreciate your confidence, trust and help in making general, medical, laser and surgical eye care available to all those in need.

Respectfully,

Francis D’Ambrosio, Jr., M.D.