A message from our doctors:
Safety is our first priority. As Clay County and Missouri transitioned to lifting orders, we moved to reopen our full services. Some of the safety measures created for Covid-19 turned out to be good upgrades to our office procedures, particularly the remote check-in, online forms, and "touchless" payment procedures. They worked so well we plan to keep them in place. Please do not hesitate to call us for more information and to arrange your healthcare services so that we all stay safe and healthy.
- Dr Ann Waterman
•We are scheduling routine eye care services as well as continuing to handle urgent eye care problems.
•Our office continues to be open our regular hours. We redesigned our appointment schedule to provide for better “social distancing.”
•Entrance to the office will remain by appointment with screening upon entry. All staff is currently screened for fever every time they enter the office.
•We ask that only one patient enter the office at a time. If a friend or family member comes with you, we ask that they wait in the car. Exceptions to this policy will be made for patients needing a care-giver to assist them and minors (all minors are allowed one parent to accompany them during the visit).
•All patients, visitors, and staff over the age of 2 yrs old will be required to wear masks when they enter the office. Staff is required to wear a mask any time they are in the office.
•Prior to your visit staff will be contacting you to screen for COVID-19 risk factors and then will determine the most appropriate setting for care. Risk factor screening includes asking:
| -if you have had close contact with anyone who has Covid-19?(close contact is defined as less than 6 ft for over 10 minutes) ? |
| -have you had close contact with anyone exhibiting symptoms such as fever, cough, sneezing/runny nose, or muscle/joint pain ? |
| -have you had cough, fever, muscle/joint pain, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, sneezing /runny nose ? |
| -have you attended any high risk group gatherings or traveled out of your local area ? |
•If screening shows that it is not a good idea for you to come to the office in person we offer “telehealth” visits and “virtual check-in” services. Telehealth visits are an excellent way for patients to continue receiving face-to-face care with their provider using a smart device, while allowing them to stay at home. Virtual check-ins, for established patients, are done by phone and allow you to discuss your problems with the doctor. Our doctors will help decide if a “telehealth” visit or a “virtual check-in” is appropriate for you.
•Check-in Procedures have changed to keep you as safe as possible. We will call you the 24 or 48 hours before your appointment. During that call we will review the Covid-19 screening questions and we will update your demographic/insurance information. When you arrive at the office on the day of your appointment we ask that you give us a call, 816-781-2100, to let us know that you are here. As soon as we have a room ready for you, we will call you and have you come in to the office. When you get to the front desk we will do a temperature check and take you directly back to the exam room or tech dispensing area.
•We streamlined our check-out procedure to make it more convenient and to promote better “social distancing.” We are now able to email your prescription and transaction receipts directly to you.
As we move forward through the "Covid-19" maze, it is critical that we continue to practice the ways in which we collectively stay safe:
●Practice social distancing
●Wear a mask when in group settings
●Wash your hands
●Disinfect all “touch” surfaces
●Stay home when sick
●Call your healthcare provider if you are concerned about having COVID symptoms or being exposed to the virus