New Territory – Coronavirus Pandemic

Since last week, so much has changed in our world. Last week Tuesday we were still seeing patients for routine eye exams. We had upped our cleaning regimen and were taking patients temperatures when they entered the clinic. Less than 24 hours later, we made the decision to close our clinic to routine exams. The CDC came out with a statement on Tuesday, March 17, and asked all dental and eye clinics to stop routine patient care. We followed that recommendation immediately. Our clinic was closed for the rest of last week. We had staff there Wednesday – Saturday working very hard to get our clinic completely cleaned and disinfected. I am fairly certain there is not one place in our clinic that has not be scoured. Every inch is clean! Our staff took Sunday to rest and recover.

We were ready to open on Monday, March 23. However, due to continued recommendations, we remained closed to routine care. Our doctors made the hardest decision they have made in a very long time. As of right now, our clinic is closed. We are doing this to keep our patients, staff, and town safe. We are trying our hardest to be part of flattening the curve.

Right now our plan is be closed the remainder of this week. We will reassess the situation on Monday. Since this is such a fluid situation, we can’t make concrete plans right now. As much as we would love to be able to tell you, without a doubt, that we will be open on Monday, we just can’t do that with a great deal of confidence right now. We are being as transparent about our plans as we can be.

Last night, our city council met and they are very likely to sign an ordinance on Monday that states that all non essential businesses be closed for up to the next 60 days. We don’t know what that looks like for our clinic yet. We do know that every decision our doctors are making right now, is being made with the upmost thought and consideration of everyone involved. We intend to keep our patients updated on all social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and here). We are continuing to check our voicemail messages from the office regularly. Our staff members are answering patients on Facebook as promptly as possible. None of these decisions are being made lightly and we are doing our best to provide the high level of care we always do. Thank you for helping us get through this trying time. We will come out of this stronger, because we are doing it together…from a distance of course!

 

–Tracy