SCO News

Everyone,

Events have continued to unfold at a rapid pace related to the national emergency response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Public and private institutions are on the frontlines helping the nation flatten the infection curve to keep cases from overwhelming our healthcare system’s capacity to assist those most at risk, including seniors and those with underlying chronic health conditions.

In consultation with our senior leadership and other institutions, Southern College of Optometry has decided to prioritize public health safety. As noted in previous communications, while no COVID-19 cases have been reported at SCO, the increasing number of infections poses serious risks to students, employees, and others in clinical settings.

Taking into consideration the public health risks to clinical eyecare delivery, we have a number of critical updates to communicate:

• The decision has been made to suspend all clinical assignments in The Eye Center, University Eyecare, FocalPoint, and MobilEyes and in-person laboratory teaching, effective immediately and until further notice.
  • University Eyecare and FocalPoint will be completely closed until further notice.
• Things could change extremely quickly, so everyone must regularly monitor emails, texts, and social media updates in this unfolding situation
• Effective Monday, March 16th, lecture attendance will no longer be optional, all lectures will be online only until further notice. Students may hear from course instructors with additional details. The college will closely monitor and work to ensure a smooth transition to this method of teaching.
• SCO students should not attend their in-person courses, clinic rotations, or labs until further notice. Students should not come onto campus unless otherwise notified.
• The Eye Center will suspend regular patient care. Steps are being taken to notify patient care appointments.
• A volunteer team of faculty members and limited staff will be on hand in The Eye Center to triage emergency care only. The idea is to help keep patients from flooding hospital emergency rooms if we can be of assistance.
• SCO recommends that all students and employees do not attempt to travel to reduce the opportunity for exposure to COVID-19. Everyone should practice social distancing.
• Employees should not come onto campus, with the exception of those who may be requested as needed to assist to volunteer. Unless you’re requested by your Vice President (or director/manager consulting with your Vice President), you should not come to campus.
• Employees will be receiving separate information at the appropriate interval with additional details about compensation, in part related to pending federal legislation addressing the national emergency.

By working together, we hope to do our part to help minimize the spread of this infectious pandemic. As soon as we’re able to resume in a safe manner, SCO will do so. We understand the concern students will feel about their academic progress. Please know that the college will continue working with ACOE and others in our field for best practice recommendations.

Please monitor your email, the college’s website, and social media for additional updates. As stressful as this unprecedented situation may seem, we are mindful that there are thousands of infected patients across the nation and many more around the globe. As educators and healthcare providers, society looks to institutions like SCO for trust when it comes to patient care safety.

Individual questions are welcomed as this situation unfolds. SCO appreciates your continued commitment to the high standards that have made the college a leader in optometric education and the region’s leading eyecare provider. SCO was founded during the Great Depression and survived WWII when most of our students were called away to service. With your cooperation, we can work together through this latest challenge and emerge stronger when this crisis passes.

Lewis Reich, O.D., Ph.D.
President
Southern College of Optometry

A Message from SCO President, Dr. Lewis Reich, re: SCO’s ongoing response and action plan to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak:

You may have heard that many colleges are universities are moving to a distance-learning format. By the very nature of an optometry college’s mission, this option is more challenging in part because of the labs and clinical learning experiences required for our students to demonstrate mastery of clinical skills as required for their license to practice optometry.

Social distancing is being encouraged by the CDC. This particularly applies to college students because they gather in large groups at one time. In SCO’s case, we have 130+ students sitting in close proximity to each other for an extended period of time. We have explored ways to increase social distancing for our students.

We’re communicating to our students that we continue to test online lecture capabilities for our students. The first-year class test was successful. The second-year class is being tested this afternoon. Tomorrow, we are testing our third-year class capabilities. 

If these video lecture tests continue to be successful, we intend to implement a plan to give students the option to watch lectures by video from home through March 28. Midterms would continue as planned the week after next. We will continue to evaluate and monitor our options through this March 28 date.

During midterm week, students will be encouraged to spread out in the lecture hall for social distancing. We have also encouraged all students to practice social distancing outside the college.

Labs and clinic assignments are still unchanged but we will continue to monitor the situation for both. Lab groups are much smaller and we are able to control the sanitation in those environments. We cannot replicate those technical skill assessments in a virtual format. 

Students are being encouraged to continue practicing good health and hygiene measures for cleanliness. This practice must be embraced by faculty and staff as well.

To the entire campus:

1. If you’re ill, please stay home and notify your supervisor. Human Resources may follow up with additional information for employees in terms of PTO or other flexible options. Students should notify Student Services for excused absences.
2. In terms of patient care, our Clinical Programs are using phone scripts to pre-screen for appointments. Our clinical employees have received additional specific instructions from Dr. Venable today. The Eye Center is being sanitized four times a day.
3. Our Physical Plant continues to keep the entire campus clean, including surfaces, doorknobs, armrests, and other areas. Purell stations are located around the campus. Please use them. Digital signage is emphasizing proper handwashing techniques – please continue to practice frequent handwashing.
4. International travel continues to be suspended until the end of the semester. Those who choose to travel internationally should monitor this ongoing situation and know that travel may become challenging. Quarantine may occur.
5. We continue to evaluate social engagement and other programming. Decisions will made on a case by case basis in the coming weeks.  

At this time, we are not aware of anyone in the SCO community having reported exposure to COVID-19. We remain vigilant, with particular care being taken in terms of preventive measures as outlined above.

We will continue to provide additional updates as the situation warrants. We recognize this is a fluid crisis, so please be continue to monitor your email, local, state, and national news reports.

These two resources have been recommended by the government for helping keep us all informed:

• The CDC’s Coronavirus Disease website
   
• John Hopkins University also is maintaining a map updating official infection reports from around the globe

Thanks again to each of you for helping keep each other and our campus safe.

Lewis Reich, O.D., Ph.D.
President
Southern College of Optometry