COVID-19 Information
AOA WebinarsHHS Round 2 Help
All members who are eligible should request this 2nd round (first round did not require an application, but Round 2 does)
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If you have not yet attested to receiving Round 1 HHS funds, click link and attest. Then clear browser cookies, and click link again for Round 2.
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If you have attested, delete your browser cookies, then click link.
To complete, you will need:
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EIN
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Business name
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office Medicare PTAN, can be found on Palmetto website login, or in your files. This is what you put into the "Medicare #" box.(if you can't find this, search your email for "Medicare PTAN", it is commonly listed on applications and other formal CMS documents)
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your Round 1 HHS $ amount and last 6 digits of deposit account number(NOT your PPP loan amount, your HHS funds)
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digital copy of your 2018 taxes
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To find gross revenue loss for April, estimate your total April 2020 gross revenue as best you
Personal Protective Equipment
The VOA is compiling information and resources for PPE. We will continue to update this site with information as it is found/received.
Sign up for AOA GPO! - they should have access to PPE soon
PPE Tips, Tricks, and Suppliers (PDF)
Masks
- Luxottica: Practices with an Essilor account can request “medical-grade masks” by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Snow Joe:
- Wyze: Selling surgical-type masks and KN95 masks: See site
- iHealthLabs:
- Monoprice:
- Newegg: 50 surgical masks for $30. see site
- WalMart: 100 surgical-type masks for $44 (free shipping for 200 masks). See site
- MyDigitalDiscount: 50 surgical-type masks for $20 ($5 off w/ discount code SD5OFFMASKS): see site
Infrared Thermometers
- iHealthLabs: infrared No-Touch forehead thermometer. See site
- Check local hardware stores for infrared thermometers.
Gloves
- Amcon: (mostly sold out) see site
- Peak FBS: 1000 gloves for $155. see site
- PPE Supply House: see site
- Check local auto supply stores, hardware stores, Southern States, Tractor Supply, etc
Slit Lamp Breath Shields
- Topcon: Offering free breath shields that work with Topcon slit lamps. Request yours here.
- Marco is offering free breath shields for customers with Marco slit lamps. Request here.
- Haag-Streit: no more free shields, but some for purchase: see site
- VEO Ophthalmics: selling a one-size-fits-all device for $30. see site
Hand Sanitizer
- PPE Supply House: (liquid hand sanitizer for spray bottles) see site
- Monoprice: 500ml, $12. see site
Eye Shields
- RecSpecs: PPE for medical professionals. Review offerings here.
Cleaning Protocols
disinfectants:
- To make a bleach solution, mix:
- 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water, OR
- 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water
- Leave solution on the surface for at least 1 minute.
- Alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol may also be used.
How to Make a UVC Chamber
Any non-porous item in your office can be effectively sanitized using UVC light including frames, near point cards, forceps, occluders, pens, trial frames, loose lenses, 20D BIO lenses, etc.
What you need:
- cardboard or other suitable box (paper ream box in this example)
- aluminum foil
- UVC bulb (any wattage will do in this small box - it doesn't take a lot of wattage to be effective)
- tall cookie cooling rack (to get UVC on all sides)
- timer outlet to ensure bulbs do not run too long
This 20W example chamber was calibrated to inactivate single stranded RNA viruses (coronavirus) in <20s. It could kill MRSA in 1 minute (50 mJ/cm2) and C-Diff (100 mJ/cm2) in 2 minutes.
UVC Bulb
Any bulb wattage will do, but the larger the bulb, the faster it will work. You can find UVC bulbs on Amazon in the aquarium area. Objects may have to be flipped over and run about 1 min on both sides. (four 5W bulbs were used here, but that's not necessary. A single bulb will work just fine.)
Aluminum Foil
Use any white glue to fasten normal kitchen-grade aluminum foil to the inside of the box shiny side out.
Cardboard Box
Don't go too small - a box that holds paper reams was a good fit for almost everything you should need to sanitize.
Cookie Cooling Rack
In order to get the bottom of your items sanitized, elevate them using a cookie cooling rack.
Timer Switch
(not pictured) Use an outlet timer to ensure the chamber bulbs do not run too long.
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UVC Bulb
Any bulb wattage will do, but the larger the bulb, the faster it will work. You can find UVC bulbs on Amazon in the aquarium area. Objects may have to be flipped over and run about 1 min on both sides. (four 5W bulbs were used here, but that's not necessary. A single bulb will work just fine.)
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Aluminum Foil
Use any white glue to fasten normal kitchen-grade aluminum foil to the inside of the box shiny side out.
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Cardboard Box
Don't go too small - a box that holds paper reams was a good fit for almost everything you should need to sanitize.
-
Cookie Cooling Rack
In order to get the bottom of your items sanitized, elevate them using a cookie cooling rack.
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Timer Switch
(not pictured) Use an outlet timer to ensure the chamber bulbs do not run too long.
Be sure to understand the dangers of UVC light. Wear polycarbonate lenses to protect your eyes, do not look at the bulbs directly while they are on, and reduce skin exposure. Also, UVC bulbs produce a small amount of ozone which can irritate your lungs in high concentrations.
