Covid-19 Safety Precautions
COVID-19 UPDATE
To My Dear Patients and Friends,
WOW! COVID-19 has dramatically affected all of us, and our daily lives will likely be quite different for some time. I am seeing patients again in the office, and have resumed performing surgery at the Santa Barbara Surgery Center on De la Vina as well as LASIK surgery performed in my office LASIK suite. I have dedicated my career to providing my patients with the best possible care, and my amazing staff and I are completely focused on safeguarding your wellbeing.
I want your visit to the office to be comfortable and worry-free. To that end, I have expanded my office hours and reduced the number of patients I will treat each day. This will give us the time and space we need to practice social distancing and maintain a clean environment. You can reach us in the office by telephone from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Monday through Friday, and 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. After hours, I am always on call.
Occupancy in the waiting area will be limited so that patients are seated at least six feet apart. Every person you encounter will be wearing a face mask. We kindly ask that you wear a mask to your appointment. Please do not wear a mask with a valve, as it does not sufficiently protect others. We will also have hand sanitizer located throughout the office for your use. Unless you need the assistance of a caregiver, we ask that you enter the office alone. And if you prefer to wait in your car or in the courtyard, please call us when you arrive so that you can be checked in for your appointment. My staff will ensure the waiting and reception areas are cleaned on a continual basis. Exam and testing rooms, restrooms, and all surfaces and equipment with which patients and staff come in contact will be sanitized before and after each use.
When you call to schedule your office appointment, my staff will ask about any changes in your insurance and personal information since your last visit. All updates will be handled telephonically or via e-mail as we strive to make sure the time you spend in the office is solely devoted to your medical care. If you need prescription refills, please contact your pharmacy first so that those can be handled electronically as well.
By taking care, following the guidelines established by public health experts and using our common sense, we will get through this difficult time together. I am here for you. Be safe. Be well.
Best regards,
Stuart R Winthrop MD, FACS
If you need an in-clinic appointment
- Please inform clinic staff when scheduling your appointment of any insurance, address, phone number, or personal information change since your last visit. This will help minimize your time in our office and allow us to see you for your appointment in a timely manner. If you have an insurance change, we ask that you please email the front and back of your card to our office prior to your appointment. If this is not possible, prior to your appointment, please call our office to provide us with your current insurance carriers information, identification number, group and plan number. Having your current insurance information on file will ensure that we bill your insurance properly and avoid claim interruptions.
- Prior to your appointment, please either email or mail us a copy of your current medication list. You may also bring in a copy of this list for your chart to your appointment. This list will not be returned to you. Your medication list should include dosage and strength of your medications and any supplements you are taking.
- Please arrive on time to your appointment. Appointments are limited and scheduled as such to allow us to ensure our social distancing protocol. If you will not be able to make your appointment time please call our office before your scheduled appointment.
- If you would prefer to wait for your appointment in your car rather than our waiting room, please let our office know by calling us when you are in the parking lot so that we may check you in. We will call you into the office when we are ready to see you.
- We are asking that upon entrance to our office you please use the hand sanitizer provided at the front desk.
- During your visit at our office we ask that you please abide by the 6 feet social distancing guidelines.
If you need a prescription refilled
- Contact your pharmacy first to inform them you would like your medication filled.
- If you do not have refills left on your current prescription, your pharmacy will then contact us to authorize additional refills.
- If you do not hear back from our office, your medication refill authorization was sent to your pharmacy. We will contact you only if an appointment is required for refill or if we have any questions.
Please call us if you have any questions!