The physicians and staff of Retina Associates of Missouri are committed to the safety and health of our patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are, therefore, following the guidelines of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the US Surgeon general’s warning by restricting our clinic to essential patient visits only.
Such visits that may be considered essential include: new emergency patients, patients receiving intravitreal injections and postoperative follow-up patients.
We recognize that many patients requiring such treatment may also be at greatest risk of morbidity and mortality from a COVID-19 infection. For the safety of our patients, all patients will be screened at our front entrance to ensure that they are not at high risk of COVID-19 infection including travel to high risk areas, contact with known or suspected COVID-19 patients, or displaying symptoms of viral infection. When possible, patients should enter the clinic alone and those accompanying the patient should remain outside the clinic during the patient visit unless their presence is absolutely necessary. Patients will be directed to remain in their vehicle until they are called in for the examination. Once inside the clinic, patients will be kept distant from each other as much as possible and the visit will be expedited to reduce risk of exposure.
Because the examination and treatment of retinal conditions is done face to face and patients with COVID-19 can be asymptomatic, our physicians and staff will be taking measures to minimize the risk of droplet transmission via thorough disinfection of all surfaces and instruments, slit lamp shields, and facemasks if available.
For your additional safety, we have divided our physicians and staff into two teams to allow one team to provide direct patient care in the office while the other team works from home and quarantines. This aims to protect our patients and staff from asymptomatic infection while ensuring the staffing needed to continue offering retinal care to our patients most at risk of visual loss.
We fully understand and regret the inconvenience and sacrifices of all those involved during this difficult time but are hopeful that the above measures will help control the rate and incidence of COVID-19 infection in our patients and in our community. In this way, we will continue our mission of saving sight, improving lives, and offering hope.
