Notice to Patients:

As of May 4, 2020, optometrists will once again be able to provide routine care.  However, the procedures and protocols at our office will be anything but “routine”!  Here is some of what you can expect:

…A lot more signs…  Before entering the building, you will need to ensure that you pass the screening criteria.  Anyone who has travelled outside the province in past 14 days, has been in contact with anyone with confirmed/suspected COVID-19 within the past 14 days, or has potential symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, or flu-like symptoms) will not be permitted into the building.  Once inside the building, there will be signage to help direct the flow of traffic and maintain proper social distancing.

…A lot more masks…  As many of the procedures we need to do in the office cannot be done from 6ft away, we are taking other precautions when social distancing cannot be maintained.  For example, we recommend that all individuals entering our office wear a mask or face covering for the duration of their visit, provided it is safe for them to do so.  We will have a limited supply of face coverings available, but would appreciate if patients could supply their own whenever possible.  Our staff will be provided with approved masks and face shields to wear when needed, and we are in the process of setting up plexiglass partitions for an extra barrier between patients and staff. 

…A lot less people…  One of the most effective ways of ensuring that we can maintain social distancing is to limit the number of people in the office at any given time.   Our staff will be working in teams, to minimize the number of staff members in the office at one time.  We are also decreasing the number of exams we do in a day, to help ensure efficiency and to allow sufficient time for cleaning protocols between patients.  Some appointments (such as those for eye infections) may be done remotely.  We ask that anyone coming in to the office for frame adjustments /repairs or to look at glasses call ahead to arrange an appointment in our dispensary.  All of our paperwork (insurance forms, patient information forms, and contact lens order forms) will be available on our website and can be submitted electronically.  When you get to the office, we welcome you to call to “check in”, in order to minimize the time you spend in our reception area.

As Saskatchewan moves through the phases of reopening, our policies and protocols will likewise change.  We appreciate your continued patience during this time; we know a lot of people have been eagerly waiting for businesses and services to reopen, and it may be frustrating if there is more waiting involved.  We thank you for your support and understanding, and can’t wait to see you from 6ft!