According to responses in wave 16 of the coronavirus ECP survey from Jobson Optical Research, the percentage of practices having first-hand experience with COVID-19 infections is increasing. Wave 16 was taken between Oct. 16-20, and 22 percent of the respondents said that someone who works at their location has had COVID-19. That compares to 18 percent in wave 15, taken Sept. 18-22, and 16 percent in wave 14, taken Aug. 21-27.
This wave showed a dramatic increase in the percentage of respondents who said that their area has had an increase of COVID-19 cases in the past week. Sixty-one percent of respondents said that their regional numbers are increasing, compared to just 31 percent percent who said their region was seeing an increase during September’s wave 15 survey. Only 9 percent of respondents said their region is seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases.
This survey also shows the highest percentage yet, 82 percent, of practices that now have a plan in place to notify patients if the practice has been made aware that someone at the location or a patient who visited the location has contracted COVID-19.
Screening protocols for staff and patients remain high. Daily temperature checks are routine; 81 percent said staff members are screened daily, and 79 percent said that they are screening patients with temperature check.
Fifty percent of respondents report that patient volume is lower than this month in 2019. However, 34 percent said that their profitability is lower. On average respondents are reporting that their weekly revenue is 74 percent of what it was at this time in 2019.
View the full report here.
