COVID 19 Office Protocols

July 27, 2021

To Our Patients RE: COVID-19 / “Coronavirus” and appointments and visits at Cal Oaks Vision Center.

As California begins the next phase, we continue to strive to provide a clean and safe environment for patient care. Please call or text our office to schedule an appointment.

We have always had a careful hygienic protocol in our office (using disposable items whenever available, hand-disinfection with every patient, etc), but here are some precautions that go “above and beyond” our normal process – please note that some items IN BOLD may be asking YOU – our patients to do something DIFFERENT as well:

1. We will be calling all patients the day before their appointment to confirm and will ask them if they are certain they are free of any fever, chills or other flu-like symptoms AND have not been exposed to someone with those symptoms in the past week – if they are not certain or have been experiencing these symptoms -they will be re-scheduled for at least 2-3 weeks later.
2. We ask that patients come alone to their visits when possible. Appointments for younger patients with a need for parent/guardian will be accommodated, but we ask siblings remain home or with other parent/guardian outside the office.
3. We now require our Wellness/Optos screenings as our standard of care. With most insurances the co-pay is $39.
4. We will be asking all patients to wash hands and/or use a hand disinfectant (we supply) when they are taken back for their office experience.
5. We will ask any patient (or person accompanying a patient) who presents with flu-like symptoms when they show up at the front to reschedule.
6. All of our team members will STAY HOME if we feel the symptoms of the flu – aching, fever, chills or persistent cough = this may require us to RESCHEDULE patients (e.g. if a number of staff are out at the same time, or if one of the doctors is not able to come in).
7. In compliance with OSHA and CDC mandates for healthcare settings, all patients will be required to wear a mask before entering the office regardless of vaccination status.
8. If patients require urgent eye care and DO feel ill- the Dr. seeing them should decide if they should be seen at the Emergency Department, can be rescheduled or treated at our office as the RED eye patient. If that occurs, that examination room will not be used the rest of the day (and of course, like always – rigorously cleaned and disinfected).
9. We will enforce a NO FOOD OR DRINK of ANY kind anywhere in the office for patients – while the food isn’t the problem, eating and drinking involves lowering masks and “hand to-mouth” motion and may contribute to a “touch” – then “infect” scenario.

It is our hope that these days of uncertainty will draw us toward a steady, thoughtful, caring and reasoned approach to our fragile natures and our approach to the communities we live within. While these times have been difficult and trying for everyone, it is our belief that with compassion and patience we can reduce the severity and impact of this disease on many if we proceed wisely.

Updates by Riverside County Public Health Office: https://www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus

OSHA Covid-19 information:  https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus

CDC Healthcare setting mandates: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html

–California Oaks Vision Center of Optometry