Ophthalmologist Paranoias
As most of you will be preparing to restart your practice after lockdown, I have been working for past 15days, as a single ophthalmologist, providing emergency care at my centre! Despite making a brave decision to open my clinic during lockdown, I had a constant fear of getting infected and this had a significant behavioural change towards my walk-in patients. Apart from this, my fear and my doubts about secure practice were always kept in check by fearmongering in whatsApp and webinars. So, my thoughts about happy, fearless and successful practice:
1. Protect yourself whatever way you want! But use which is cost effective and reusable! How long and how much you will spend to protect you?
2. Patients, irrespective of age, cross various checkpoints and take huge risk of exposure, to reach your clinic. So, don’t see them as carriers and spend some extra time to treat their concerns.
3. Don’t rush to send them out of your room – does the risk change in few extra minutes?
4. Since OPD numbers are low, space out patients but don’t rush.
5. Greet them with Namaste!
6. Covering you face with mask or PPE hood itself disturbs them! Reassure them with your voice.
7. Don’t forget to crack a joke and spend some time chatting at social distancing with some social subjects.
8. You need not see them for free! But don’t escalate your fees significantly.
9. Surgical and Optical revenues are key for your survival. Do start it! Risk remains whether it’s OPD or OT. (When I am writing this article, optical shops are allowed to open)
10. Keep attenders waiting outside, comfortable. Advice patients to take-care of themselves, wear face-mask and not to go outside if they are elderly, when they are about to leave your clinic – make them realise, YOU CARE.
With regards,
Dr.N.Sathian
Eye Trust Hospital.
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