Safety Protocols at Associated Retina Consultants
Information about COVID-19 is changing on a daily basis and we are continually reassessing how our practice should respond to increased risks. Patient safety – and the safety of our team members – is always our #1 priority at Associated Retina Consultants.
We take pride in maintaining sterile environments at all of our locations. Since the development of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the U.S., we have amplified our disinfectant protocols to provide an additional layer of protection for our patients and staff.
- Exam rooms continue to be thoroughly disinfected after every patient encounter. All surfaces are disinfected: exam chair, companion chair, work surfaces, door handles, surgical light handles, etc.
- Public areas continue to be disinfected multiple times each day: waiting area, counters, bathrooms and other high touch surfaces.
We are also asking our staff and patients to follow these safety measures:
- Refrain from handshaking.
- Wash your hands or use our hand sanitizer upon arrival.
- Avoid touching your face (nose, mouth, eyes).
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a clean tissue, dispose of it and immediately wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before inserting or removing contact lenses.
Some Appointment Cancellations at Associated Retina Consultants
At this time, we are restricting non-essential appointments for patients.
This means that if you have a routine exam or any other type of appointment that can be safely delayed, we will be rescheduling those appointments for a later date. If you have not already been contacted by our staff regarding your appointment, please call us directly at (602) 242-4928 to verify if your appointment is still on.
Please call us to reschedule your appointment or surgery if you, or someone you live with or the person driving you to your appointment:
- Is currently feeling sick or has any early flu-like symptoms or a respiratory illness
- Has been exposed to a COVID-19 patient
- Has traveled outside the state of Arizona, or had a layover at a busy transportation hub
- Have you or anyone in the household had a fever within the past 14 days?
Please note that we are asking our staff the same questions and are taking steps to make sure everyone at our offices are safe. We will be checking all patient, and staff members temperatures as they enter the building.
All patients will be required to wear a mask upon entering the facility. If you do not have one, we will provide one for you.
Also, at this time, family members or drivers, may not accompany patients into the building. We will consider Power of Attorney’s, caretakers or translators based on the needs of individual patients.
At this time, we will still accept patients into our facility with urgent problems. If you do have an urgent problem but are experiencing a respiratory illness, or other symptoms of the coronavirus, we will consider each case based on the individual needs of the patient.
While we are committed to helping save vision of our patients, we must be responsible about keeping our other patients and our staff healthy and reducing the risk of infection.
Please understand that we are all trying to navigate the best ways to handle this dynamic situation. We are receiving updates from the American Academy of Ophthalmology as well as Centers for Disease Control so we can make the most educated decisions on how to provide or restrict patient care. We appreciate your patience as we all work through this situation.
Please reference the following sites for the most accurate information regarding COVID-10:
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: www.CDC.gov
- Worth Health Organization: www.WHO.int
- American Academy of Ophthalmology: www.AAO.org
Thank you for understanding and please call us at (602) 242-4928 if you have any questions.
Stay healthy.
Sincerely,
Associated Retina Consultants