Dear MSEPS Members,
We truly are in unprecedented times. With the ongoing spread of COVID-19 (coronovirus) and the incredible speed in which things are changing all around us, the executive board of MSEPS wanted to communicate to each of you.
As you are likely aware, yesterday Governor Baker announced drastic moves to stem the spread of COVID-19 which will limit the ability to practice ophthalmology in the usual fashion. Governor Baker announced all hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers will cancel and/or reschedule non-essential elective invasive procedures effective March 18, 2020, until the State of Emergency is terminated by the Governor or until rescinded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Additionally, all hospitals must screen visitors and restrict visitors who meet any specified screening criteria as necessary to protect the health of patients and staff effective March 17, 2020. Lastly, the Governor’s announcement limited gatherings to no more than 25 people and closed all public and private schools starting March 17th. This impacts attendance at meetings and conferences, which should certainly be suspended.
For additional resources and information, we suggest you to check the following websites daily.
Our annual meeting is slated for May 21, beyond the eight weeks that the CDC has recommended for avoiding larger conferences, and it is our sincere hope that we will be able to attend this meeting in a celebratory fashion having gotten through this event. However, given the continued uncertainty and ever-changing situation we will be monitoring guidelines closely and providing updates about the meeting in the future.Although the AAO Mid-Year Forum has been cancelled this year, we continue to advocate for you and our profession. Should you find yourself with more time than you typically have, we would like to remind each and every one of you to fill out our membership survey as we continue to ensure the sentiments of our membership are being addressed by the organization.
I want to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for all of your efforts and sacrifices in keeping our communities within the Commonwealth safe. These are unprecedented challenges and we will continue to work together for the safety of our patients, and for our colleagues, our families, and ourselves.
With best regards,
Jeremy Kieval, MD
MSEPS President
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