GENERAL GUIDELINES

With careful consideration, Veterinary Ophthalmology Services Management has set a strict guideline to ensure safety not only to our staff but to our valued clients.  There will be NO ADMITTANCE BY ANYONE BUT OUR STAFF UNTIL OUR STAFF HAS BEEN VACCINATED FOR THE COVID-19 VIRUS.  We don't know when that would be but please keep in mind that if anyone of our staff members becomes infected, the whole clinic would be shut down for at least two weeks.  Since we service a 150 mile radius of clients and are the only Veterinary Ophthalmology clinic within that area, our clients would be forced to drive in excess of 130 miles to see the nearest veterinary ophthalmologist.  Again we apologize for our strict protocol but it is to ensure that the only Veterinary Ophthalmology clinic in our county will remain open for as long as possible.  


DEAR CLIENTS

We truly hope that each of you are healthy as we all navigate the social distancing that the CDC has recommended.  Veterinary Ophthalmology Services will remain open on a limited basis, having instituted several changes in our daily operations as advised by the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association).  These changes are meant to protect not only our clients but also our nursing staff.  Additionally, we see clients daily from an average of 3 to 4 counties, and we must heed the warnings regarding the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus.  Lastly, the majority of our clients are elderly and at a greater risk with this disease.  We are hopeful that these changes will help to prevent our staff and clients from contacting the virus and by also remaining open to serve San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Kern counties.  The following are changes that have been instilled by management and are as follows:

  1. Minimal nursing staff will be available to receive patients.  Staff has been instructed to wear medically protective gear, in addition to frequent hand washing with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
  2. Nursing staff has been instructed to wipe down all areas with antivirus products in between each patient.
  3. All staff members will be wearing latex gloves and facemasks when handling your beloved pet.
  4. We ask you to please call the clinic when arriving.  Please park in the parking lot and not across the street if you can.  If you have to park across the street, staff will instruct you to bring your pet across yourself.  Some pets are not comfortable walking with a stranger and staff has had issues crossing the street and almost gotten hit by cars.  
  5. When ready, staff will come to you to take your pet inside.  Please make sure that there is a clean hand off of the lease or cat carrier.  Do not let go before a staff member has taken control of your pet's leash. 
  6. Staff will use our own sanitized leashes.  They will ask you to place the leash on your pet since some pets can get car aggressive.  
  7. Your pet will then be taken inside the clinic.  Not more than two patients are allowed inside.
  8. Dr. Schmidt will then examine your pet and call you to discuss her findings and answer any questions.  SHE WILL BE CALLING FROM 805-710-3008 NUMBER.  PLEASE ANSWER YOUR PHONES.  If you don't answer your phone, Dr. Schmidt will leave a message and move on to the next patient.  She can't wait for you to call her back.  So please be available for her phone call.  
  9. We understand that a lot of you come from far away and are in need of a restroom.  Our restroom is not available at this moment.  If you need to leave the premises to use a restroom, please call the clinic and let staff know that you are temporarily leaving.  If you leave for any other reason, your pet will be considered a hospitalized patient and will be charged accordingly.  This is not a drop off situation.  Just imagine the parking lot as the reception area.
  10. After your conversation with Dr. Schmidt, the nursing staff will go over the treatment protocol, answering any questions you may have.  All new medications will be administered to your pet to make sure there are no adverse drug interactions.  Nursing staff will also go over the treatment regiment, drug interactions, and side affects.  
  11. The receptionist will then call you to make a recheck appointment (if necessary), and take your payment.  
  12. IF YOU HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING BY PLANE WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT OR HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE ELSE THAT HAS BEEN TRAVELLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
  13. IF YOU ARE NOT FEALING WELL, PLEASE ASK TO RESCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT.  WE APPRICIATE YOUR HONESTY AND THE GENERAL WELLFARE OF THE STAFF AND OTHER CLIENTS AS A RESULT OF YOUR CONSIDERATE ACTIONS. 
  14. Finally, we hope this protocol is not too frustrating for you and we ask to be as patient as possible during this time.  This system is very inefficient for us and there will be further delays.  One thing that will not be compromised is the care of your four legged family member.



MEDICATION REFILL GUIDELINES

Due to our new COVID-19 guidelines, all medication refills will be either mailed or placed in our lock box located on the North side of the building near the gate or the courtyard.   24 hour surveillence cameras are placed there for your security and for the safety of your medications.  The receptionist will give you the access code for the lockbox when you make the request for your refill pickup.  You can come and pick up your pet's medications at any time.