BOCA RATON, Fla. (PRWEB)
April 07, 2020

West Boca Eye Center Adapts to COVID-19 Pandemic Protocols to Safely Provide Urgent & Emergent Care

The Coronavirus pandemic means health care providers are adopting radical precautions while treating patients. In accordance with the CDC and WHO, the West Boca Eye Center has ceased all procedures except those of an urgent or emergency nature. Brent Bellotte MD. explains how they’re providing for the welfare of patients and staff alike.

The provision of impeccable infection control is something the West Boca Eye Center prides themselves upon at all times. Never has this been more crucial than right now, and one of the biggest issues for the ophthalmology industry is that it involves up-close work with an area of the body that presents a high-risk portal of entry for the virus to infect the body—the eyes.

Following in-depth collaborations with major subspecialty societies, lead clinician at the clinic, Brent Bellotte MD. has put in place strict guidelines regarding treatment provided to their patients. This has been done to ensure the safety of both staff and patients in this time of unprecedented risk.

COVID-19 Specific Precautions in Place at the West Boca Eye Center

With immediate effect, the clinic has ceased the provision of all ophthalmology care that doesn’t fall into emergency or urgent categories. Initial consultations will take place via telephone and/or video consultation. Following this, those deemed in need of urgent or emergency attention will be asked a range of questions to determine their risk of having been exposed to the virus. These include, but aren’t limited to, asking about any of the common symptoms of COVID-19—fever, cough, or other respiratory issues—as well as recent travel (in the past 14 days) to a country or US region with high numbers of infected cases.

Should the patient answer yes to one or more of these they will immediately be directed to their primary care physician. Patients deemed appropriate for treatment within the clinic will be invited for an appointment. Social distancing of at least 6 feet will be strictly adhered to, with patients requested not to arrive before their allotted appointment time to ensure the waiting area is kept as clear as possible. Those who’ve been determined as the most vulnerable due to age and/or health conditions will only be requested to attend the clinic if absolutely necessary.

Safety during individual treatment

All areas and equipment will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between each patient to reduce contamination risk as much as possible. When invited to enter the treatment room patients will be requested to speak as little as possible during the procedure—a practice that the clinician will also adhere to. Anyone who is coughing, sneezing, or has any flu-like symptoms will be requested to wear a mask during their eye examination. Breath shields and slit-lamp barriers may also be in place to further shield against infection.

Any patients with respiratory illness symptoms but without any COVID-19 risk factors will be treated by a clinician wearing gloves, gowns, surgical masks, and eye protection. The clinician may wear an N-95 mask should the treatment necessitate. The examination room will be thoroughly disinfected after each patient.

As always, the safety of the patients and staff is of the utmost priority. With the pandemic presenting an evolving situation, Brent Bellotte MD. and his clinical team are in constant communication with the CDC, WHO, and the American Board of Ophthalmology to ensure the West Boca Eye Centre adheres to the very latest safety standards.

Anyone requiring urgent treatment or advice on their eye condition or ongoing care is requested to make contact by phone or email in the first instance. Further details about the clinic can be found at https://westbocaeyecenter.com.

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