COVID-19 Safety Practices

The San Diego LASIK Institute's COVID-19 Safety Practices
Staying Glasses and COVID-19 Free

Dear San Diego LASIK Institute Patient Family,

We are all very excited to see our patient family and friends again. We look forward to meeting new patients on the exciting journey towards laser vision correction. The situation is dynamic and evolving and we want to play our part in limiting the spread of COVID-19 and protecting the health of our communities. We have always put patient safety above all. 

Here are some of the protocols that we have implemented to improve the safety of the procedure for you and will continue: 

• Clean, clean, and clean again is our the San Diego LASIK Institute's motto. We have always cleaned our office before and after patient interactions but will continue to clean even more.  We will continue to follow recommended sanitation protocols as we always have.

• Frequent Handwashing - We have always trained our team to wash hands frequently and will continue to do so. We have placed hand sanitizers throughout our office so that patients can join us. We have also placed medical grade wipes as well throughout the office.

• We are asking patients to stay home if they have had a fever, cough, shortness of breath, or exposure to COVID-19.

• We also have a sign on our door asking patients to not come in and reschedule if they have symptoms.

• Staff members will be monitored and asked to go home if sick. 

• Our staff has been instructed to wear masks and gloves. 

• Face coverings are mandatory for all visitors. If you do not have one, please ask us and we can provide you one. 

• I have customarily greeted patients with a warm handshake welcoming patients to our office. Unfortunately, we have adapted a no hand shake or physical greeting policy. All physical contact is strictly for examination purposes and will be minimalized 

• We have recommended that patients limit their party to one guest or have their driver drop off for office visits. 

• Please see below for our Detailed plan

The San Diego LASIK Institute's Detailed COVID-19 Protocol

A. Signage:

1. Signage at each public entrance of the facility to inform all employees and customers that they should: 

1. Avoid entering the facility if they have a cough, fever, or contact with a person with COVID-19.

2. Wear facial coverings.

3. Maintain a minimum six-foot distance from one another outside of medical examinations.

4. Do not shake hands or engage in any unnecessary physical contact.



B. Measures To Protect Employee Health:

1. Daily Employee Temperature Checks 

2. All employees must have temperature taken upon reporting to work; if 100 degrees or more, should not be allowed in the workplace. Employees will log all daily temperatures.

3. Employees must be screened for symptoms (cough, shortness of breath or trouble breathing; or at least two of the following: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell.

4. All employees have been told not to come to work if sick

5. All employees must wear facial coverings in the workplace, if within six feet of others

6. All employees must wear gloves and wash hands frequently.

7. All desks or individual work stations are separated by at least six feet

8. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been provided at a level appropriate to employee job duties

C. Measures To Protect Customer Safety 

1. All patients will be screened with the following questions before their appointment and on arrival:

2. All patrons/visitors must wear facial covering.

3. All exam rooms will be wiped after each visit. 

4. Waiting room will be disinfected every hour.

5. Sneeze guards will be installed where feasible and helpful:

6. Hand sanitizer will be made available throughout the office.

7. Doors will be left open where feasible

8. Using telemedicine and phone visits when feasible.

D. Social Distancing Measures to Keep People Six Feet Apart

1. Patients are asked to not bring guests except for surgery day.

2. Surgery day guests are limited to one person.

3. Appointment system is utilized to maximize social distancing.

4. Patients will be asked to be escorted to secondary waiting rooms, consultation rooms, exam rooms, or additional areas to be spread apart

5. Floor decals will be used to help maintain a 6 foot apart distance. 

LASIK can be an incredibly positive and life-changing process and we look forward to being a part of this process with you. Safety is our top priority and we will constantly improve upon our procedures. I look forward to seeing you soon. 

Sincerely,

Tony Pham M.D.