Sustaining private eye care practices during initial days of the coronavirus pandemic

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created new challenges for private eye care practices. Safety issues were encountered by both the healthcare workers and patients. This short communication addresses the changes made in our private eye care practice during the pandemic and the valuable lessons learned for the future. Methods: We describe the challenges faced in our tertiary private eye care practice in India with respect to treating patients and preventing the transmission of COVID-19, considering the economic hardship within this area. We discuss the emerging economic, medical, legal, educational, and psychological issues and their solutions, which eye care hospitals could follow in the future to ensure safety without compromising quality of care. Results: Hospitals required efficient operation with reduced fixed expenses. Clinical practices were followed in the hospital as per the recommendations of the country’s apex ophthalmic body. Proper triage and prescreening of patients at the entrance, digitalization, teleophthalmology, staggered appointments, and role-appropriate personal protective equipment were important preventive measures. The operating room protocols were modified to ensure the safety of the operating staff. Special consent was obtained from patients to safeguard against legal repercussions arising from the pandemic. The training of residents and fellows led to new avenues, including the use of digital tools. Hospitals attempted to provide counseling and psychological support to their doctors and staff during these trying times. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic will not be the last pandemic to occur in an ever-changing world. This event provided us with many new insights into the economic, clinical, legal, and psychological challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and with ways to overcome these challenges and emerge intact. Clinical and surgical training suffered during the pandemic; however, the impact was only temporary. Clinical research gained respect because of the efforts undertaken during the pandemic. The pandemic was exceptionally harsh on many private eye care practices, and we hope to provide useful and comprehensive solutions on how to successfully navigate a similar situation if encountered in the future.