A Team Approach to Remote Vision Therapy and the Transformation to Virtual Vision Therapy

Abstract

Our practice, Alderwood Vision Therapy Center (AVTC) focuses on optometric vision therapy. We are located in Washington state. This holds great significance in this era of COVID-19 as the first documented case of the novel coronavirus in the United States was confirmed in Washington State on January 21, 2020. The individual who holds this ominous distinction, a gentleman in his 30s, had travelled to Wuhan, China where the pandemic originated. Initially there was optimism that our practice could continue in-office operations at our two locations. We sent out a notice to our patients that we were making continual changes to our normal practices in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. These changes included having only those individuals essential to the patient’s visit attend the appointment as to limit exposure in the reception area. Patients were advised that if they had fever within the past two weeks or had exposure to anyone confirmed as having the virus, their appointment would be rescheduled. We indicated that we were looking at the option of Remote Vision Therapy sessions and that, while insurance did not as yet pay for this, it was a vital option. It seemed as if every day the landscape was changing and it became apparent, fairly rapidly, that in-office therapy would be difficult to continue. As we investigated the alternative of Remote Vision Therapy more seriously, we ultimately made the heart wrenching decision to close in-office operations on March 18, 2020, five days in advance of Governor Jay Inslee’s Stay Home Order that closed nonessential businesses in the state.