In a continuing effort to prevent the spread of viral illnesses, Plessen Healthcare has updated clinic hours and policies. It continues to closely monitor the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and will adjust protocols as necessary in order to best protect its patients, medical professionals and employees while continuing to provide care for our U.S. Virgin Islands community. Updates to these protocols will be announced as necessary.
Surgical Services:
The Governing Board of Plessen Healthcare voted on March 18 to defer elective surgeries at the Orange Grove facility as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Therefore, elective, non-progressive surgeries will be postponed until after April 6.
Any cases presenting to the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) will be reviewed by the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tasnim Khan. Case-by-case analysis will be used to determine which are medically necessary, which have potential to become progressive in nature and whether delaying treatment could potentially harm the patient. For those identified cases, an on-call team will be available during regular business hours.
Plessen Healthcare will continue to provide services to all dialysis patients in need of treatment of the hemodialysis access to maintain flow and patency as this is critical to their needs and cannot be delayed.
The Ambulatory Surgery Center hours are on call only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
Plessen Medical Clinic:
Effective as of March 18. the Medical Clinic will reduce its hours to normal business hours, Mondays through Fridays. Extended hours as well as Saturday hours will be discontinued. Medical services will be geared toward triage first, outside the building; office visits will focus on urgent needs. As much as is possible, all regular follow up visits will be rescheduled to Telemedicine visits.
The Medical Clinic hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
Plessen Ophthalmology Clinic:
Plessen Ophthalmology is accepting emergencies, post-surgical follow ups and patients receiving a necessary scheduled treatment. All injection patients, post-op patients and patients presenting with an emergent or urgent case will continue to be seen based on physician availability.
For the purpose of clarity, the definition of “urgent” shall also include patients with conditions that could lead to permanent vision loss in the absence of intervention.
Non-Urgent Care: With limited exceptions, all new non-urgent clinical appointments will be scheduled after April 6. All laser procedures and in-office surgeries will be postponed until after April 6.
The Ophthalmology Clinic office hours on St. Croix are from 8 a.m. to noon, Mondays through Fridays; on St. Croix hours are from 8-11 a.m., Mondays through Fridays.
Plessen Optical:
The optical dispensary will remain open at the same time as the ophthalmology clinic remains open.
Plessen Optical office hours are from 8 a.m. to noon, Mondays through Fridays.
Plessen Healthcare continues to urge patients to utilize, whenever possible, its Telemedicine option instead of visiting the office.
To make an appointment, call 715-7720, contact Plessen Healthcare via its website: www.plessenhealthcare.com/contact or by email: myhealth@plessenhealthcare.com
At the time of this press release there have been three documented case of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), in the U.S. Virgin Islands. For the most up to date information contact the Virgin Islands Department of Health or refer to www.cdc.gov for daily updates.
