Time for a Break
As for everyone else, the past couple of years have been very tough due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Added to that, we had the issue – after being in East Melbourne for 23 years – of having to relocate as the building we were in was being knocked down so that they could build new apartments on the present site. Thankfully, in October last year we moved into our sensational new Balwyn North rooms which are very modern and spacious, with the extra advantage that there is an abundance of onsite car parking.
My staff have also been fantastic during these difficult times, and they have been truly amazing in being able to continually perform at the highest level, even when at times when have had a number of staff absences associated with COVID. As I previously stated in another blog, my staff engage in all aspects of patient care, including inserting and removing contact lenses and teaching patients how to do the same, spectacle frame and lens selection for dispensing of glasses, and performing tests on patients such as digital retinal imaging, optical coherence tomography, corneal topography and visual fields. My staff have a friendly manner and even when things get very busy and hectic at the front desk, they are able to greet patients with a smile while also ensuring that appropriate professional care is provided.
Early next year the practice will celebrate its 25th anniversary. In that time, my longest time away from the practice has been about 3 weeks. With that in mind, I have decided to take an extended break this Summer so I will be away for all of December and January. My colleague Jillian Campbell and my other two optometrists – John Komser and Jacinda Van – will be around during this time to ensure that we are still able to provide our high standard of patient care. This includes being able to see patients who require urgent care and management at short notice. Jillian and my practice manager Carly Anderson will also be happy to take phone calls from patients or practitioners who have any queries regarding contact lens fitting or primary eyecare.
- Richard