COVID-19 Information

Quick Links to Items Below 

- New Developments
- Vaccination Statistics
- Public Health Resources
- Practice Resources 
- Help Forms 
- Restore Illinois 

The Illinois Society of Eye Physicians & Surgeons is keenly aware of the public health implications of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) matter.  As we all know, this is a rapidly developing situation.  As always, the health and safety of our members, corporate sponsors, speakers and practice employees are first and foremost in our concerns.

This page has been developed to provide access to credible resources for information, such as the CDC and the Illinois Department of Public Health.  It also is where we will make announcements concerning cancellation/postponement of planned events or other factors.  We will be updating information on this page regularly as the situation develops.  

New Developments

• NEW!  12/3/2020 -- The Illinois Department of Public health has published their draft COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan.  READ IT HERE
• 5/5/2020 -- Restore Illinois - A public health approach to safely reopen our state
• 3/20/2020 -- Illinois adopts a "shelter at home" order through April 8.  Medical offices may remain open, including other essential services.  READ THE ORDER 
• Chicago Tribune story
• Federal Legislation
• 3/18/2020 -- Congress has passed HR 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act."  This bill was approved by the House of Representatives last Saturday; it passed the Senate today and now goes to the President for final approval.
• Here is a SUMMARY of the bill's provisions (prepared by the Congressional Research Service)
• This is the FULL TEXT of the bill in PDF format (112 pages) 
• 3/26/2020 - The US Senate passed a bill providing economic help to individuals, businesses and state/local government.
• Chamber of Commerce Fact Sheet - SBA emergency loans 
• HR 748 - Final Language of the bill
• Washington Post summary 
• Expanded Unemployment Insurance – The federal government is increasing state unemployment insurance payment rates by $600 per week for the next four months.  Many more Americans are now eligible to receive payments, including:  self-employed workers; freelancers; independent contractors; gig workers; part-time workers; parents who must care for their out-of-school children.  To apply for unemployment insurance in Illinois, file your claim on the Illinois Department of Employment Security website. 
• 3/23/2020 - Governor Pritzker puts out a call for retired doctors and nurses to return in order to bolster the ranks of healthcare providers.  Read More . . . 
• News Items of Interest
• 3/25/2020 -- News Story:  Hoarding and improper prescriptions for Plaquenil and chloroquine, thought to treat COVID-19. 

Public Health Resources

We have assembled some links to credible public health resources to help our membership stay informed concerning the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation.

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• Situation Summary
• Information for travelers
• Information for healthcare professionals
• Resources for healthcare facilities 
• Coding and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) - Announcements and press statements 
• Telehealth FAQs (3/17/2020) 
• Medicare advance payments - AAO memo 
• Medicare advance payments - CMS fact sheet 
• COVID-10 and Telehealth - Article by Joy Newby
• State of Illinois
  
• Illinois state government coronavirus page 
• Serve Illinois... Millions of Illinoisans rely on the kindness of others each and every day. That shouldn’t change just because you’ve been asked to stay home. It just takes a little creativity.  This is not a free pass to violate the Stay at Home order. This is an opportunity for healthy college students looking for something to do, or individuals who aren’t able to work from home—an opportunity for people who are healthy and looking to help.  If that’s you, register on the Serve Illinois website and the organization will connect you with opportunities based on their needs.
• Restore Illinois . . .  reopening plan published 5/5/2020 
• Scorecard - how we're doing by region on the metrics
• Illinois Department of Public Health 
• Clinical Guidance fact sheet 
• Original IDPH Elective Surgery Recommendations 
  
• Modified IDPH Guidance - some elective surgeries to be permitted (4/23/2020)
• COVID-19 testing sites 
• Governor's Disaster Declarations
• Governor Pritzker's disaster declaration (Original) 
• Extension - beginning May 1 
• State of Illinois coronavirus daily update (live feed) 
• Illinois Department of Employment Security (unemployment compensation) 
• How to apply for unemployment benefits --  Chicago Sun-Times story
• Chicago Department of Public Health 
• World Health Organization
• American Academy of Ophthalmology 
• Coronavirus preparedness (video) 
• AAO Memo to State Society Leaders 
• Scale back to urgent and emergent care only -- AAO statement 
• Coronavirus and your eyes -- AAO fact sheet
• Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company COVID-19 Information Resources 
• There's a lot of good information and resources posted here
• American College of Emergency Physicians 
• Reliable Statistics
• NEW Vaccination Information
• Covid Vaccination Statistics 
• CDC Information about Covid Vaccines
• NEW!  Illinois graphic data showing transmission rate and other statistics.
• This is really cool data . . . 91-DIVOC is a visualization project created by University of Illinois professor Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider using coronavirus case numbers from Johns Hopkins University.
• Johns Hopkins University
• Johns Hopkins University coronavirus resource center - This is a very good statistical compilation worldwide and for all states 
• Testing Criteria tracker 
• New! Daily Video tracker 
• New York Times - updated charts for countries and states
• Politico Newsletter - testing statistics overall and by state 
• Interesting statistical projections  
• From the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington - statistics, state-by-state projections, and more 
• Covid Extra Strategy -- tracks trends by state
• Financial Considerations and Resources -- Congress is working on a financial aid package at the present time.  As soon as they finish that work, we will do our best to summarize the provisions and how it would benefit medical practices.
• Small Business Administration
• SBA coronavirus information and resources 
• SBA disaster loans 
• Interesting Background
• The Coronavirus Explained -- really good video explaining everything 
• ZDogg webcast on medical aspects of coronavirus - very interesting 
• What's the risk for a healthy young person (LA Times) 
• The math behind epidemics and exponential growth (bone up on your high school math!) 
• Separate Facts from Misinformation -- a good Q&A about COVID-19 
• Here's why the shelter at home measures are necessary - NY Times article 
• Things to consider in your practice!
• Need masks or other PPE?
• Mask a Hero - donate or request N95 masks 
• This Chicago apparel company is switching over to making masks - Read Story 
• Make your own masks -- Not ideal, but perhaps an option . . .  
  How to make reusable masks -- from Deaconess Health System, Evansville, IN
• In addition to droplet precautions, eye protection should be used as COVID-19 can be spread through ocular secretions.
• Conjunctivitis may be the 1st symptom of COVID-19 (offices may consider triaging these visits over the phone or offering telemedicine visits.) 
• CMS has just passed a "1135 Waiver" to expand telehealth, with relaxed HIPAA guidelines (can be done via Skype).  Supposedly, this is seen as the "same" as in-person visits and can be reimbursed at the same rates.  CLICK HERE to view a CMS fact sheet. 
• Malpractice attorneys have warned that if surgeons defy the US Surgeon General's recommendation to postpone elective surgery, they could potentially be held liable if the patient develops COVID-19. 

Ideas, Needs and Practice Resources

As the public health emergency continues, medical practices are facing unprecedented challenges.  We don't claim to have all of the answers, but we can try to be a clearinghouse for ideas or requests.  Of course, as always, physicians and practice managers should use their own best judgment about any actions taken in consultation with your normal advisers.  

• New - How to prepare for a longer-than-expected COVID-19 interruption -- READ MORE
• If social distancing is necessary for 8-12 weeks or even 4-5 months, how do you keep the practice afloat?  Article by practice consultant Jill Maher, MA, COE 
• New- How to make reusable masks -- from Deaconess Health System, Evansville, IN
• Medical Supplies
• Story from Bloomberg about ways to work around shortages of supplies, such as masks or eye protection.  CLICK HERE to view the story. 

Help Forms

ISEPS Help Form

Use this form to submit questions or to identify particular needs in your practice.  We will do our best to find answers to your questions, or we will use this information to share with other ophthalmology practices who may be able to offer assistance.

Offers of Supplies or Assistance Form

Use this form if you have any information, supplies or other offers that may be of assistance to Illinois ophthalmology practices.  As appropriate, we will post the availability of these items so others are able to contact you directly.  Please note . . . if the offer becomes no longer available -- such as you have given out all of your available supplies -- please let the ISEPS office know so we can remove the listing.

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