HCM

As we all are aware, McKinley and San Juan Counties have been severely and disproportionately affected by the Covid crisis. At HCM, we travel to Gallup on almost a weekly basis, where we see patients from Western New Mexico and Eastern Arizona. Needless to say, continued trips to Gallup have been met with some trepidation, especially as President Nez of Navajo Nation has ordered Weekend curfews and Governor Lujan-Grisham more recently ordered a state of emergency and a 72 hour lockdown in Gallup. Yet as a group, ultimately we’ve come to the conclusion that people in Gallup require eye care as much as people in Central and Northern New Mexico, and we have continued to staff our clinic there on a regular basis. After all, Drs. Hudson, Golubev, and I are trained as Medical Doctors, and we have taken an oath to provide care to people as physicians at all times – not only to provide care when conditions are safe and delivery is easy.

While we aren’t ER or ICU workers, our offices have stayed open throughout the Covid crisis as so many of our patients have ocular conditions that fall under the category of “necessary.” Per our Governor, this means that if neglected for 90 days it could lead to permanent harm or dysfunction. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Tearing and Detachment, and Retinal Vascular Occlusions all fall under this definition and require that we continue to keep our offices open. At High Country Macula, we remain committed to performing the essential care you need to help you preserve your sight.

Although we have implemented new protocols for seeing patients at High Country Macula, it is important that everyone maintains their vision health during these challenging times. For patients who have postponed non-urgent visits, please continue home-monitoring and making healthy lifestyle choices. Those with diagnosed conditions can track changes in your vision using our Amsler Grid, available at https://bit.ly/3bu0N5A. It’s advised to monitor at least once a month. As always, communication with our patients is our focus. Please don’t hesitate to call us at High Country Macula and to make us aware of any significant changes in your vision.

You’ve probably heard that one thing to do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to wash or sanitize your hands regularly. The reason hand washing is effective is that the virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat. That is why any soap or detergent is the best remedy, because the soap lather cuts the fat. That is also why you have to rub so much – for 20 seconds or more – to make a lot of lather. By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down on its own. It is also important to use water over 77 degrees because heat melts fat, and hot water produces more lather, which makes it even more useful. Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% dissolves any fat, especially the external lipid layer of the virus. For more recommendations on what you can do to help prevent the spread of flu-like illnesses, visit our website at https://bit.ly/3bCYkWq

During these challenging times we’d like to remind patients that insurance policies can be quite complex and coverages can vary, greatly. With deductibles, copays, medication tiers, and coverage limitations, disappointments can happen. We suggest reviewing your policies periodically, so that you better understand your coverages, and limit the possibility of any surprises. If you are confused about your coverages, simply reach-out and ask us for help. We have staff members who are able to assist you.

While we continue in our rigorous adherence to protocols for safely accommodating those who may be at high-risk for COVID-19, some patients have expressed concerns about potential risk in traveling to their necessary appointments. If you have a friend, neighbor, or family member who can drive you, and you trust has been extra careful with their own exposure, this would be a better option than public transportation or ride-share. Don’t be embarrassed or shy in asking about their potential exposure, and what measures they’ve taken to stay isolated, or in asking them to wear a mask. If you have to travel on public transportation take along Lysol, bleach or alcohol wipes to wipe down areas within arm’s reach of where you are sitting or standing. Again, this does not take the place of washing your hands frequently while in public but it will make your immediate public spaces safer for you and others. Your health, and the health of our patients and staff during this difficult time remains our ultimate concern.

April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. Did you know that more women suffer from visual impairments than men? According to Prevent Blindness, women make up the majority of Americans age 40 and older who are visually impaired or blind, and they represent 65% of the population affected by Age-related Macular Degeneration. In addition to making sure to schedule an annual eye exam, learn about other tips to ensure the health of your eyes and vision at
http://bit.ly/2OkQo1v

Some of our patients who suffer from Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and receive monthly eye injections, and who may also be in a high-risk group, have asked about their upcoming appointments. During the expanding Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, we have adjusted our “flu-like illness” patient protocols to be more in-line with CDC COVID-19 recommendations. The purpose of these changes is to protect our patients and staff and to streamline the evaluation and management for those people with a flu-like illness.
Please do not assume that because we have implemented these new protocols, that an appointment should be skipped. Based on how long you’ve been receiving injections and how stable your vision is, we may recommend stretching the time between injections, but that determination must be made on a case-by-case basis. If you have questions as to whether or not you should come in, please call us to discuss. At High Country Macula, we remain committed to performing the essential care you need to help you preserve your sight.