“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall”. F. Scott Fitzgerald may have been on to something. While we are still awaiting “crisp” in DC, Fall is definitely in the air. And there is a sense…
Re-Engaging Patients During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic – AAOA Zoomcast
A brief summary of the Re-Engaging Patients 2021 – AAOA Zoomcast Series: Just In Time Content for AAOA Members, Part II. Written by Jodi Zuckerman MD, FAAOA.
Panelists: Steven Houser, MD; Haidy Marzouk, MD; Paul Neubauer, MD; Nalin Patel, MD; Robert Stachler, MD.
Moderator: Ayesha Khalid, MD.
- Let Patients and Referring doctors know you are open and in what context
- Get the word out that you are seeing patients, performing procedures, offering telehealth
- Have a strong online presence, communication on your website •Policies for COVID precautions
- Let Patients know you are following COVID protocols and the office is a safe place to come for evaluation
- From central scheduling to phone, scripts provided to ensure patients of cleaning, masks, spreading out patients and volume
- Keeping the office safe and these protocols visible to patients
- Universal masking, PPE for providers
- Screening over the phone or with text applications of symptoms prior to appointments
- Extensive cleaning in the rooms
- Allowing turn over of air in procedure rooms in between patients
- Air purification strategies
- Staggered appointments
- Fewer patients in the office, waiting room at any time
- Change the flow of traffic
- Reassurance for the staff and patients that protocols are being followed and the office is a safe place
- Embracing Telemedicine
- Pure telemedicine (These visits can save the need or an office appointment and can be done without physical exam at the flexibility of the patient)
- Post op checks
- Med Refill
- Allergy Follow Up
- Preoperative Consent, Allergy treatment consents
- Offers opportunity for larger geographic pool of patients that may live a far distance from your office
- Using tools to try and adjust for the physical absence
- Pictures, video otoscope, video endoscope
- Hybrid Approach
- Use telemedicine to obtain historical information and all other necessary information
- Have patient come in for a limited time strictly for the procedure or diagnostic study
- Have handouts that will guide patients how to be prepared for their telehealth visit
- Pure telemedicine (These visits can save the need or an office appointment and can be done without physical exam at the flexibility of the patient)
View the Re-Engaging Patients During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic Zoomcast.