PNI Recommendations for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Updated: May 8, 2020
PNI Policies and Procedures During Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
WE ARE OPEN FOR PATIENT CARE
Dear PNI Patients and Referring Doctors:
For the protection of our patients and staff, Pacific Neuroscience Institute has been implementing social distancing measures to help reduce the spread of coronavirus since March 16, 2020. Here is our latest update.
Effective immediately:
- All PNI Clinics are open Monday – Friday to see all patients with urgent, semi-urgent, or routine conditions and diagnoses, for new patients as well as for follow-up visits.
- In-person visit versus telehealth (video) visit is determined individually. Given that our PNI Providers see patients with a wide spectrum of conditions, each clinic and physician may have different criteria for an in-person or telehealth visit.
- All in-person visits will follow strict rules to ensure safety for all, including pre-visit temperature checks at the door, universal face-masking for all individuals in the clinic including care providers and patients, as well as appropriate use of other personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gowns and gloves, as indicated.
- Elective surgeries have started again. Saint John’s Health Center and Little Company of Mary Medical Center and our outpatient West Wilshire Medical Surgical Center are open for elective surgeries. All appropriate precautions related to COVID-19 are being taken. Preoperative confirmation of a negative COVID-19 test within 7 days of surgery is mandatory for all patients.
- Brain and spine imaging with MRI, CT or other modalities is available for new and current patients at Saint John’s Health Center and at Tower Imaging at 2202 Wilshire Blvd.
- Prescriptions are being actively processed and providers will ensure these are approved.
- Patient support groups and meetings are now via online video conference calls.
As this continues to be an evolving situation, we anticipate the need to modify our approach from time to time, and the duration of these measures remains uncertain. We remain committed to protecting our patients, providers, and caregivers. Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time.
Daniel F. Kelly, MD, Neurosurgery
Chester Griffiths, MD, ENT
Santosh Kesari, MD, Neuro-oncology
Howard Krauss, MD, Neuro-ophthalmology
Founders, Pacific Neuroscience Institute
For more information: