Doctors cautiously reopening offices
Putting more safety measures in place to protect patients, staff
As part of the reopening plans for her practice, Dr. Kerry Giedd had to figure out what type of disinfectants would kill the virus that causes COVID-19 but wouldn’t damage the eyewear on display at her optometry practice.
“Eyewear is much like jewelry. It’s expensive and there’s a high cost of goods to us,” said Giedd, founding partner and president of Eola Eyes in downtown Orlando. “We want to provide a perfect product to our patients that doesn’t have any flaws or damage.”
She also had to reconfigure how the retail corner of the practice is set up to prevent the spread of the virus. Patients can only browse the area with an appointment, and every frame is disinfected before and after a customer wears it.
Since May 4, when Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted the ban on elective and non-essential procedures, medical practices across Central Florida are implementing a variety of infection-control practices at their offices to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Most practices are now screening patients via phone before scheduling the office visits. They’re asking patients to check in by phone and wait in their cars for their appointment. Many are placing plexiglass guards at the reception desks and are asking
“Even in our waiting rooms, we have social distancing precautions. We’ve put tape on every two chairs and we have staggered the visits so not all patients come in at the same time.” Dr. Venkatesh Nagalapadi ,a geriatrician at CFP Physicians Group
patients to wear masks. Some are taking patient temperatures and limiting the number of individuals who can accompany patients.
The American College of Radiology has recommended that radiology and imaging practices assess the risk versus benefit of scheduling procedures and to implement safety measures, such as screening patients during scheduling and at entry, universal masking, minimizing time in waiting rooms, cleaning and decontamination of patient care areas, and preventing symptomatic visitors from accompanying patients.
Pete Scott, CEO of the American Academy of Optometry based in Orlando, said he has been spending a lot of time providing education and information to optometry practices about safe opening.
“We’re not calling them guidelines, because each area of each state and each practice is a little different, but we’ve certainly tried to crowdsource with our members some of the best lessons learned and how to do this successfully,” said Scott.
Giedd, for instance, has installed shields on the microscopes that optometrists use to examine the patients’ eyes.
“It creates somewhat of a barrier so we’re not breathing on each other,” she said.
She is also postponing some non-urgent cases that require more oneon-one contact and touching, such as patients who want contact lenses as an alternative to glasses.
Dental patients can also expect to see changes on their visits.
Dr. Rudy Liddell, president of Florida Dental Association, said many can expect to be screened with questions about having flu-like symptoms or having contact with someone who has COVID-19 before scheduling an appointment.
“The thought is if we can keep patients who are positive for the disease out of the treatment rooms, then there can be no cross contamination,” said Liddell, a dentist in Brandon.
For his practice, he has ordered a high-velocity system to replace the regular suction straw to reduce aerosols that are produced during cleanings and procedures.
Most primary care physicians are devising different arrangements to separate patients who may have COVID-19.
Dr. Jan Parrillo, a physician at Family Medical Center in Orlando, said his practice has curtailed walk-ins for now, a feature for which the practice has been known.
His practice has also implemented universal masking, giving patients masks once they arrive in the office. Patients are also screened on the phone. Those who could potentially have COVID-19 are offered telemedicine visits.
“The problem is patients who you bring in the office who could be asymptomatic carriers and that’s why we wear masks and wash our hands and we clean the office,” Parrillo said.
Dr. Venkatesh Nagalapadi, a geriatrician at CFP Physicians Group, has also been encouraging patients to use telemedicine. Patients are screened by phone and symptomatic patients who need to be seen are brought in through a different doorway at his office building where they’re cared for by staff members wearing full protective equipment.
“Even in our waiting rooms, we have social distancing precautions. We’ve put tape on every two chairs and we have staggered the visits so not all patients come in at the same time,” said Nagalapadi, medical director for Orlando Health – Health Central Park and Orlando Health Center for Rehabilitation.
Doctors and hospitals have voiced concern about a potential surge of sicker patients because many have been delaying routine care for fear of catching the virus.
A recent report showed that more people in South Florida are dying at home because they’re afraid to call 911. Oncologists worry about patients who have delayed routine preventive screenings such as mammograms and colonscopies, according to Modern Healthcare.
“The same thing is going to happen in some cases in optometry where relatively mild cases of something could become much more serious,” said Scott.
Giedd, the optometrist, said although her practice has a long list of patients who are waiting to come in, there are some who are deferring their visits to a later time.
“Quite honestly, it’s really probably best for everyone in society to go out and attend those needs that really need to be addressed and defer things that can be comfortably and safely deferred,” she said. “But I want patients to know that we have done our research and we’re taking every measure that we can to protect their health and safety when they visit us.” Got tips about testing woes, medical bills or PPE shortage? You can reach me at nmiller@orlandosentinel.com; call, text, Signal at 321-710-7947; on Twitter @NaseemMiller and on Facebook.