OOMC News

Chambersburg, PA – Ludwick Eye Center, with offices in Chambersburg and Waynesboro, PA and Hagerstown, MD, is navigating some changes as it prepares to serve more patients. For the last seven weeks, only emergency appointments and essential post-surgical care patients were being seen in-office. Dr. David Ludwick says they have implemented new changes with the safety of staff and patients in mind.

As of 5/11/20, all Ludwick offices will return to normal schedules seeing regular patient appointments as well as performing both refractive and medical surgeries.

Ludwick wants patients to feel confident in their care. Below is a list of the safety protocols in place:

• Extensive Cleaning. Cleaning of exams rooms takes place between each patient visit, along with frequent disinfecting of our welcome areas, medical equipment and frequently touched surfaces. Magazines have been removed and fabric chairs have been replaced with plastic folding chairs. Hand sanitizer stations will be located at each entrance. All patients are required to use the hand sanitizer before entering.

• Enforcement of Social Distancing. Welcome areas have been arranged to provide more separation between seats.  Social distancing will also be marked on floors at check-in and traffic patterns will be marked.

• Patient Screening. They will continue to screen all patients with COVID-19 screening questions. Each patient will receive a temperature check before entering the office.

• Staff Screening. All staff are screened daily for symptoms of COVD-19 and temperatures are checked twice daily; the first being prior to beginning their shifts. Anyone exhibiting symptoms, or who has been in close contact with an individual with symptoms of COVID-19, will be quarantined according to current CDC guidelines prior to returning to work.

• Telemedicine. Ludwick will continue to offer telemedicine to patients who prefer to be seen from the comfort of their home.

What Patients Should Do:

• Wear a Mask. All patients should always bring a mask or facial covering to wear when in any Ludwick offices. Staff members are also required to wear a mask.

• Don’t Bring Visitors. At this time no visitors, including children, are allowed in any of the centers. Exceptions may be made for medical necessary assistance, or if the patient is a minor.

• Stay Home if You’re Unwell. If a patient is experiencing fever, cough, or shortness of breath, they are advised to call the office and reschedule or change to a telemedicine appointment.

The Ludwick team has been seeing both medical patients via telemedicine over the last few weeks. Telemedicine has allowed our doctors to triage medical patients. Although they are opening back up, the eye center says that telemedicine will be staying.

To schedule an appointment, give the office a call at (717) 262-9700 or schedule online.

For updates and information on how you can protect yourself, please visit the PA Department of Health’s website: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx.