We concluded that we would need to limit to 40-45 patients per day ; this was a 25 to 30 percent reduction from pre-COVID-19 levels . This , as anticipated , created a major backlog for patients needing routine eye care . We created a triage system . Obviously , urgent care came first . In an ophthalmology practice this means complaints of sudden vision loss , eye pain , flashes and floaters , red eye complaints and double vision . Less urgent , but necessary eye care included glaucoma and diabetic patients , whose checks had been delayed . Cataract patients were low on the triage list as centers were not yet open for elective surgery .
Patients who needed to get their glasses or contacts replaced were also lower on the priority list , so we often just used their most recent prescription . Our optical shop reopened by appointment only to prevent patients from waiting in our lobby . Appointments for patients needing routine eye exams were thus postponed for months , even up to a year . Most patients were understanding as so much was on hold and in flux . Hats off to the staff who worked diligently to accommodate everyone ! Of course , this could certainly culminate in frustration for some patients , who chose to go in search of more readily available appointments . I imagine many of you encountered the same .
Around the middle of May 2020 , I received a call from a colleague in Southern Indiana , an owner of a large practice with 15 locations , multiple ophthalmologists and optometrists and extensive staff . He said that they had hired a new ophthalmologist for the practice prior to the pandemic , supposed to start on July 1 , but due to the shutdowns they did not have enough business to offer him a fulltime position . He asked if I might employ him temporarily . I agreed to an exploratory meeting , as this could help a young physician and help us with the mounting pressure over appointments .
Enter Dr . Strickland : Dr . David Strickland and his wife Haley Strickland , MD , attended the University of Louisville School of Medicine . Their residency training was with the US Navy at Naval Medical Center San Diego . Ultimately , they were stationed at Naval Medical Center , Camp Lejeune , North Carolina . Dr . Strickland had the honor of performing LASIK , PRK and other refractive procedures along with cataract surgery for our service members while at Camp Lejeune . David and Haley , who is an OB-GYN , always desired to return to Louisville to practice medicine along with raising their three young daughters .
When I met David for the first time , I was very impressed with the experience he ’ d gained during his years in the Navy , especially given his youth . I recalled how I started my practice when I took over for an older retiring ophthalmologist and what an opportunity it had been .
Because I was in solo practice and had been so busy , I had failed to plan what I was going to do with my practice when I retired . I did not want to sell my practice to a private equity company which has become more and more common as an exit strategy for many ophthalmologists across the country . There are far too many stories
FEATURE from colleagues voicing their regrets due to their loss of autonomy and drastic changes to their roles and those of their staff . My preference and hope has always been to launch a new practitioner , just as I was helped . I began to view hiring Dr . Strickland as a mutually beneficial solution for the practice during the pandemic and in the future .
Our meeting went very well , and we agreed on a contract . After credentialing , he began in September to see patients on Thursdays . And another small stroke of fortune occurred : the office space next to me became available , and the owner of the building approached me about expanding my office . Initially , I declined . Last on my mind was a possible build-out and all the attendant fuss . However , it occurred to me that Dr . Strickland might need extra space , and my Indiana colleague graciously encouraged this . We both wished for Dr . Strickland ’ s success . We obtained the new space and construction began . By November 1 , we had added three new exam lanes , a testing room , an office for our billing personnel and a new physician ’ s office . Dr . Strickland began seeing patients on Tuesday mornings , then added all day on Mondays , and his dance card is full .
Having a younger associate is also how to learn new things faster ! His knowledge of the most recent treatments and techniques has helped to open my eyes ( pun intended ) and has allowed us to expand our range of care .
With Dr . Strickland on board , I took stock of those prior 60-patient days and noticed how much more I enjoyed more time with each patient , each exam , each procedure . The current schedule provides more time to participate in LASIK training with the University residents along with more personal downtime to spend time with family . The patients appear to have noticed as well . In fact , a couple of weeks ago , one longtime patient was checking out at the front desk and commented on how much more relaxed I seemed and how she enjoyed conversing with me . Going forward , the intention is to spend more time listening and caring : something we all should do . I am determined to continue to look for ways to improve my practice and myself .
As COVID-19 came crashing in , all aspects of our lives were instantly changed . None of us would have ever anticipated this pandemic . It left indelible marks on our patients ’ health , our personal and practice health and our nation ’ s health . I hope that each of us can still find optimism . Serious challenges and difficulties allow us to change our own focus , discover pleasure in the smallest of accomplishments , reach out to others for support and obtain new opportunities when they seemingly and mercifully fall into our laps . It may sound trite , but two sayings come to my mind . “ Necessity is the mother of invention ,” and , “ If life hands you lemons , make lemonade .”
Dr . Burns is a private practice ophthalmologist . His practice is located in Middletown , KY under the name of Middletown Eye Care .
AUGUST 2021 17