COVID-19 Information & Patient Screening

To our valued patients and customers:

As you know, this has been an unprecedented and challenging period for all of us due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As mandated by our state, the Eye Clinic of Edmonds and Optical have been shut down for non-emergent visits and surgeries for the past several weeks. We look forward to welcoming you and your families back to the clinic and optical soon, and certainly appreciate your patience and understanding of the necessary closure.

As we prepare to re-open the clinic, we would like to update you about new health security measures in place. During future appointments, you will notice some new office safety protocols, some of which are listed below:

• COVID and Health Screening Questionnaire: Prior to your visit, you will be phoned and asked a few questions regarding your current health status and to prepare you for your upcoming appointment. Those who are deemed a medical risk may be asked to reschedule their appointments.
• Accompanying guests: In order to minimize risk and maintain social distances in our clinic, any family or friends who accompany patients to their appointments will be asked to kindly wait for them outside the clinic or in their cars. Exceptions will be made for parents/guardians of minor patients, for those with physical impairments or language interpretation needs.
• Face masks: ALL individuals are required to wear a face mask or covering (such as scarf or bandana) in our clinic, and additionally recommended in the building and parking lot as well. Due to extreme supply shortages, we suggest that patients bring their own if possible.  If you do not have one, we may offer one to you at your visit (depending on supply) with a nominal $5.00 charge.  Alternatively, your appointment may need to be rescheduled if none are available.
• Social Distance: In compliance with universal safety precautions, a six ft. social distance is requested in our clinic.
• Hand sanitizer: All individuals are asked to use hand sanitizer by the front door upon entering and leaving the clinic. Additional hand sanitizers are also available throughout the clinic.
• Temperature check: At your appointment, you will have a temperature measurement to screen for potential fever. This will be a noninvasive, noncontact measurement which will only take a couple of seconds.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Our staff will be wearing personal protective equipment that you normally do not see, including face shields and masks. The reception desk, exam room slit lamps and lasers are also outfitted with additional safety shields.
• Reception area: Our reception area will no longer display magazines or other reading material in order to minimize risk of contamination. Patients are still free to bring their own personal reading material to their appointments.
• Optical: Our frame displays may be reduced, and trials of frames may be conducted with optician supervision to allow any frames evaluated to be disinfected after trials.
• Appointment times: Reduced appointments and appointment times will allow us to minimize health risks to everyone.  Our conversations may be briefer and more concise to minimize possible spread of germs.
• Telemedicine: Although there will be reduced capacity for appointments, we still care about the ongoing health of our ophthalmic patients.  We will reach out to some of the less urgent patient appointments and offer the option of a telemedicine contact either by phone or video conference until a more robust appointment schedule can be reinstituted.  These telemedicine “visits” will be conducted with your consent and will be duly charted into your medical records and billed to your insurances as usual.

For the safety of everyone, we kindly ask for your cooperation with these safety measures and apologize for any inconvenience.   We eagerly anticipate seeing all of you again as we navigate this new normal together. See you soon!

Thank you,

Eye Clinic of Edmonds Staff

* These measures have been developed in conjunction with recommendations, guidelines, and mandates provided by the American Medical Association, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Washington Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Governor Jay Inslee and the State of Washington