Meadow Lake’s lone optometrist not opening doors despite Re-Open Saskatchewan plans on May 4

“It’s really important for my health and for my patients’ health to make sure I have appropriate protective equipment in order to prevent any possible transmission of COVID-19,” she said.

Dr. McLaughlin said while sourcing PPE has been a challenge, the SAO has obtained some reliable sources for gloves and masks. However, there may not be enough to meet the demand of the patients the local optometrist sees.

“Hand sanitizer has been a challenge, as most people know, you must have hand sanitizer available not only to the doctors and staff but also for patients as they enter,” she said. “We want to make sure we’re fully stocked before we start seeing patients.”

The doctor typically books three patients in an hour. However, now to accommodate physical distancing requirements, the optometrist has been putting all her efforts into adjusting the schedule to book patients and prepare her office to reopen.

“May 4 has just come too quickly to have it happen,” she said. “At this point, opening on May 19 is a tentative date and it depends on where things are at with the pandemic since the situation is constantly changing.”

The phase two open date of May 19 is the optometrist goal for reopening though she will be keeping a close eye on the COVID-19 pandemic. The eye-doctor has been performing emergency appointments and providing virtual consultation and telemedicine by phone and online in an effort to limit contact with others.

“We’re social people – We like to see people and be around people and that’s part of why I’m an Optometrist, I love visiting with my patients and I do miss that contact,” she said. “I feel like we’re doing the right thing to protect everyone.”

Dr. B.L. Thomas had an optometry practice in Meadow Lake though he retired at the end of 2019.

Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists

Sheila Spence, executive director with SAO said opening for optometrists is voluntary and is mandated to follow return-to-work guidelines prepared by the province’s Chief Medical Health Officer. The SAO also provides members a guideline specific to optometry.

“Every office has been provided with the guideline and as such, it is a guideline and not standard practice,” she said. “Every member is going to have to manage their own operations and it will depend on the configuration of their office, for instance, to make sure they can keep the physical distancing requirement. It will also outline a difference between what equipment they have and how to sanitize in between.”

The SAO is recommending a range of safety measures including having optometrists sanitizing frames as they’re tried on or having a staff member select frames from the board for customers.

“Everyone is going to take the recommendation guideline and make it work within their office,” Spence said. “Opening is voluntary and the provincial medical health officer was very clear, opening is voluntary. Any optometrist with illness may not open either, and we as a college cannot force them to. It’s entirely up to them and we’re asking them to take every safety precaution and follow provincial guidelines and do the best they can.”

According to the province’s Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan, all medical services providers must continue to take measures as outlined by the Chief Medical Health Officer to promote physical distancing where possible, and where not, use appropriate PPE.

Patient and Client Considerations

– Initial patient and client bookings will need to be limited to maintain necessary public health measures, but may need to be prioritized by urgency.

– Patient and client bookings should be scheduled in a manner that ensures no more than 10 patients/clients are required to gather in waiting areas.

– If clients must attend with children or other family members, those individuals must be included in the maximum number of people allowed in the area. Should scheduling errors result in more than 10 people, alternate waiting areas should be planned.

– Alternative solutions to waiting in the office should be considered, such as asking people to wait in vehicles and text messaging or calling when appointments are ready.

– At the time of booking or in advance of an appointment, clinic staff should call patients/clients to inform them of the public health measures. Staff should also ask if patients/clients have been experiencing symptoms of illness consistent with COVID-19.

– Seats in waiting areas should be spaced to maintain a minimum physical distance of two metres. Household contacts are not required to separate.

– Visual cues for areas where patients/clients are required to queue should be marked and a directional flow through the facility established.

– Non-essential items should be removed from client waiting areas, including magazines, toys, and remote controls.

-Staff should screen all patients/clients for visible symptoms consistent with COVID19. Anyone who is symptomatic should be asked to wear a surgical/procedure mask. Note: Medical professionals may determine if appointments for symptomatic clients should be canceled.

– Common areas and other high-touch surfaces and objects should be cleaned and disinfected after each use, including reception counters, seating areas (including clinic room seats), doors, handrails and objects or machines used in therapies.

– All medical and health professionals must practice effective hand hygiene after each client – washing their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer approved by Health Canada (DIN or NPN number).

– Employers should carefully consider the appropriate use of personal protective equipment for staff and patients/clients. For more information, see COVID-19 Appropriate Use of PPE for Employers.

– Carefully consider any COVID-19 safe return-to-work recommendations provided by professional associations or regulatory bodies.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722

by Nicole Reis

Meadow Lake’s lone optometrist not opening doors despite Re-Open Saskatchewan plans on May 4

Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists

Patient and Client Considerations

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