05/04/2020
UPDATE:
Over the last 7 weeks we have closely monitored and followed the guidelines outlined by both the CDC and our state government in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the latest recommendations, we wanted to pass along the planned changes in our office's status.
As of Tuesday, May 5th, both Doctors and staff will be available to patients during our normal business hours. We are an essential business, as well as an outpatient clinic that has put necessary precautions in place to safely move forward with patient care; and as of April 24th the CDC has lifted their original recommendation that all routine eye care be suspended. If you are having concerns with your vision or eye health, rest assured we are available.
We want to THANK YOU in advance for your patience and understanding as we try to come back stronger, healthier, smarter and safer. We truly love what we do, and are ready to be available for all of your eye care needs… no matter what platform they must be delivered on.
Please pay special attention to some critical changes we have made to safely provide the best care for you:
1. We will be asking a series of questions regarding your health and COVID-19 symptoms while scheduling your appointment. We will be asking these questions again on the day of your appointment, as well as taking your temperature.
2. All patients entering the clinic will be asked to wear some form of face covering (mask, scarf, handkerchief, etc). We realize how difficult this can be for some patients, but we ask this for the safety of our staff and other patients. We have installed face shields on the exam room equipment to ensure we are still cautious if masks interfere with providing the best clinical care.
3. All office visits will be by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Unfortunately, this means no walk-ins for glasses adjustments or eyewear/contact lens dispenses. Please call the office to schedule these services so we can best control our disinfection protocol, as well as the social distancing mandate.
4. We will only be available to service/adjust eyewear purchased at Salmon Creek Vision Center. We LOVE helping our patients, however, during these cautious times we are trying to limit the amount of close interaction between our opticians and patients. We recommend returning to the business you purchased your eyewear for these services until further notice. Thank you for your understanding.
5. Only the patient being seen is able to enter the building, unless they require assistance by a caregiver, or they are 17 or younger. If you have someone accompany you to your exam, they will kindly be asked to wait in the car until you are finished.
6. Please be aware we have done a lot to ensure our staff is safe as well. We will now be wearing scrubs, as they are more “washable” than many of our business attire we wore previously. Staff work stations have all been moved at least 6 feet apart to ensure social distancing during their scheduled hours. All staff will be wearing mask or face shields. Toys, magazines, and our coffee/water station have been removed, as has all but 3 of our waiting room chairs. We have reduced the number of patients we will be seeing on any given day, and are strictly monitoring how many patients are in the building at once.
Those who had an appointment cancelled during March or April we are in the process of contacting you to get your appointment rescheduled ASAP if you choose. For the patients that are scheduled on or after May 5th, we are in the process of contacting you to confirm you will be comfortable coming in. In this time of uncertainty we understand if you would like to move your appointment further out into the year. However, please know we have made several changes in our clinic to better address the new protocol that will keep both patients and staff safe.
Please continue to stay safe and healthy, we can't wait to SEE you all!
Best,
The Doctors and Staff of Salmon Creek Vision
