COVID-19 Policies

Current COVID-19 Policy (updated 5/19/20)

As we begin to reopen for non-emergent visits, please remember the following:

  1.  The front door will be locked.  Knock on the front door and someone will come to let you enter.
  2. Wait in your car until your appointment time.  If you call the office and let us know that you are here, we will send you a text when a room is available.
  3. Wear a mask.  You will not be admitted without a mask that covers you mouth AND nose.
  4. Do not come to the office if you are running a fever or are ill.  If you are ill and are having eye problems that need to be seen, call the office and we will arrange an after hours visit to protect our other patients.
  5. Do not bring anyone into the office with you.  If the patient requires a caregiver to assist them during the exam, one caregiver will be allowed.
  6.  We will ask you to use hand sanitizer as you enter the office.  If you are wearing gloves, we prefer you to remove them and sanitize your hands; but you can use hand sanitizer and completely sanitize the gloves if you have sensitive skin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current COVID-19 Policy (updated 4/9/20)

Due to the Governor’s order of 3/28/20 our office is currently seeing only urgent or emergent patients.  We will be contacting patients who have upcoming appointments to discuss whether or not each one is having any urgent or emergent problems.  We will continue to see glaucoma patients, post op patients and those with retinal problems.   We will reschedule most of the routine exams, unless the patient has high risk problems.  If you are having significant problems from other causes—broken glasses, change in prescription, etc, we will see you, but you will need to let us know you are having problems.  To contact us at this time:

1)  Call the office and stay on the line until it rolls over to the answering service and leave a message with the answering service.  They will contact a physician within the hour and we will call you back to address your problem, or

2)  Send a text message about your problem to our office line: 256-880-0667 and our staff will get the message within 24 hours and call or text you to address the problem.

If the physicians feel that your problem is urgent or emergent, and we are planning to see you in the office, we ask that you follow the following protocol:

* Please wear a face mask into the office.  A bandana or scarf will work if you don’t have another mask.

* The front door may be locked.  Please knock.  We are scheduling patients one at a time and we will come to the door and let you in.

*Please ask your ride to wait for you in the car.  If you need assistance from a caregiver during your exam, they may accompany you to the room, but they must also wear a mask.  Only 1 person will be allowed to accompany each patient, and only if needed.

*Please do not bring young children into the office with you unless they are being seen. If you cannot find childcare, please reschedule your appointment.

*If you are in any way uncomfortable being out during this time, or are high risk for severe complications (immunocompromised, cardiopulmonary disease, etc), but still have a medical condition that needs to be seen, please do not hesitate to ask for a telemedicine visit or ask about rescheduling for a later time.

Please use hand sanitizer if available before touching anything in the office.

If you have ANY questions at all, please call the office. Leave a message if you get voicemail.  We will work to call you back as quickly as possible.

 

 

 

      As we continue to feel the impact of the recent Coronavirus (COVID-19), we wanted to let you know that your health and safety is our first priority.  We are planning to remain OPEN at this time, however, we are implementing the following policies to help reduce crowding and limit exposure:

  • If you or a member of your immediate household has any sign or symptom of an upper respiratory problem (see symptoms) or low grade fever, we ask that you would contact the office and reschedule any routine appointments.  At least 14 days is recommended from the end of the symptoms.   For non-routine appointments, we will make special arrangements to get you seen, but definitely call and let us know what is going on.
  • Please bring no more than 1 person with you into the waiting room. If other family members must accompany you, please have them wait in the car.  If you would like them with you when you see the doctor, we will be happy to call them when you are in the room.
  • Please do not bring young children into the office with you unless they are being seen. If you cannot find childcare, please reschedule your appointment.
  • If you are in any way uncomfortable being out during this time, or are high risk for severe complications (immunocompromised, cardiopulmonary disease, etc) please do not hesitate to reschedule routine appointments and to call for special assistance with problems.
  • If you are having a problem and need to be seen, but are having signs of other illness, or are high risk, please contact the office and let us know what is going on. We may be able to arrange a telephone consultation, after hours visit, or make other special arrangements to keep both you and our other patients safe.
  • Please use hand sanitizer if available before touching anything in the office.
  • PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WILL NOT KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENT. We want to accommodate all of our patients.  It will help us to get everyone cared for if we know who is planning to come in and where we will have gaps in the schedule.  We will try to see ill patients at the end of the day.  Please be patient with us if we need to move your appointment.  You can cancel your appointments by leaving a  voice or text message on the office phone–256-880-0667.  After hours you can leave a message with our answering service.
  • If you have ANY questions at all, please call the office. Leave a message if you get voicemail.  We will work to call you back as quickly as possible.
  • We will also ask our staff not to come in if they have any sign of illness. This may cause things to slow down, so if we call to move your appointment, please be patient with us.
  • If you would like to wait in your car and avoid the waiting room, please send us a text or call when you arrive.  If you need to fill out paperwork, you may need to come into the office to pick this up and fill it out.  Alternatively, all paperwork (Medical History Questionnaire) can be downloaded from our website:  coxandestopinal.com and filled out in advance.  You will find this under the “Preparing for a Visit” tab.  We will text you when we are ready to bring you back to the exam room.