Hip Optics Operational Changes: COVID-19

As we learn to adapt to our new COVID-19 reality, Hip Optics takes the health and safety of our patients and staff as paramount.

As a result, we will be making changes to the way in which we fundamentally operate to keep you and our staff safe while hoping to still provide the same exceptional quality eye care and customer service that you’ve grown accustomed to. Here are some of the changes we are implementing:

• All patient visits will be BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. This includes but is not limited to emergency eye care, routine eye exams, frame selection, frame or contact lens pickups, frame adjustments, etc.
• Prior to the appointment date, we will ask you to fill out or update the patient demographic information online. Currently you are able to enter your demographic, insurance, and COVID-19 questionnaire. Soon you will be able to enter your medical history as well. We’ll be sure to send out an announcement when that feature becomes available. The link to complete your demographic information is: https://www.crystalpm.com/index.jsp?crystalpmid=794. Here you will find our Online Patient Form (see image below). There are tabs to update or input your demographic information, primary, secondary, and tertiary insurance plans, COVID-19 questionnaire, and submit date tabs. Please complete all tabs and list medical insurance and vision insurance information of the primary policy holder. After entering the information, be sure to click on the “Submit Data” tab AND click on the “Submit Data” button. That will ensure that your information is uploaded to our system. If you don’t click the “submit data” button on the “Submit Data” tab, your information will not be submitted.
• Face coverings (covering nose and mouth) are required for all patients on the day of the appointment. Riverside County recently downgraded their recommendations to match that of the state of California- strongly urging facial coverings in public and practicing social distancing. Because of the close quarter nature of our examination procedures and to protect our staff and our patients, we are still requiring face coverings during your entire visit with us. We apologize for the inconvenience but thank you for your understanding. If you have an ADA exemption from this mandate, please let us know and we’ll work together on finding a solution.

What To Expect When You Arrive To Our Office:

• When you arrive at our office, you will be required to check-in by calling or texting the office from your vehicle. Our number is 951-776-3100. We will ensure we have collected all the necessary information from you at this time.
• If there are no issues with the COVID questionnaire, please proceed to the front door where a staff member will check your temperature to ensure you don’t have a fever. If you are feverish, we will ask you to reschedule until you are no longer feverish and symptom-free.
• If all clear, you will then be guided directly to the pre-test area where our technician will conduct 3 pre-tests critical for the examination.
• You will then be guided into the exam room. While the exam room is a bit tight, we will try to situate the equipment so that 6 feet separate the doctor from the patient.
• Once the examination is concluded, you will be guided to the optical dispensary where one of our opticians will help you with your frame styling and order.
• You may notice that after each part of the exam, one of our staff members will enter the room soon after to disinfect surfaces./li>

As we begin seeing patients, we will only be seeing one patient per hour to allow for ample time to properly disinfect in between patients.  The disinfection of hi-touch areas will be done after each patient. Ozone and UV light air filters will be utilized to disinfect the office in the evenings. Adult patients will be required to enter by themselves unless they are accompanied by an interpreter or guardian. Minors may be accompanied by an adult but during the examination, the adult will be required to remain seated in the waiting area.

In our commitment to keeping you and our staff safe, staff will be required to wear protective personal equipment during each patient encounter. This includes face masks, gloves, goggles, and/or face shields (depending on the job description). We will do our best to maintain 6 feet of space between staff and between staff and patients. You will also see multiple stations around the office with hand sanitizer. We will also be increasing our usage of telemedicine appointments when conditions to do so are favorable.

We will also be recommending touchless payment methods such as Apple Pay, credit card chip sensors and text to pay as well.

As we all adapt to this new reality, we will most likely be amending some of our procedures as we grow more comfortable with them and as we receive feedback from our patients and staff. We appreciate the extra dose of grace and patience as we get back to providing care to you.

Please watch this video from our Doctor

Sincerely
Dr. Cho and the staff at Hip Optics