Government Working
Tampa FL-The Covid-19 Pandemic has changed millions of people’s lives every day for the past year, however, the everyday activities being monitored by the epidemic how have our local officials adapt to the changes?
Optometrists throughout the bay area are performing eye exams and helping people in need of their eyesight. The Veterans at The VA Hospital in Tampa are federally regulated, and people are put on the special process that helps them get the help they need without worrying too much about the Corona Virus.
Optometrist Jadea Ford, an Obticious apprentice who is in the works of getting her license is in the federal regulated Optical program that makes her a federal employee. Ford works with Veterans with TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).
The Program has changed drastically because of the pandemic and every veteran and employee must wear a mask. Employees must wear mask goggles and face sheets. All personal must have to be between the sheets or 6ft apart and must be screened. Ford also explains the concern of breaking covid diseases Employees must have to take covid tests to get screening if they want to take the vaccine or not. Telehealth where you do appointments on facetime and Prevent people from coming in unless they have to.
The main thing for VA is Covent and homeless community and properly take care of disability. Tampa VA helps people with programs like Hub = homeless community Hud = veterans with addiction food programs, shoe& clothing. They got contractors that provide calendars and food and help keep them up to date on appointments. They treat veterans with respect because without them we would not be here, and they cannot be forgotten. They help the veteran Shelters, clothing, license.
Many people in the medical field have worked till exhaustion and been separated by their families. Labor commands have increased during the time of Covid-19 The VA Hospitals around the bay area have not changed too much. According to Ford, The VA Hospital has put extra screens in place to protect both customers and employees. Ford Explains,
“My job is 50/50 with covid I think it’s easy because we do not have so many patients and competition are low. But we see 120 patience a day we do not know who has covid-19 and chances are some of them are positive and I’m putting my life on the line and I do not know if I have it I could be taking it to my boyfriend.” She says with a worried expression in her tone of voice.
Ford explains that the situations she has been put through as coworkers have been exposed to the virus and people are walking in and out of the office without proof of being negative, it has made many of the employees unsteady because of the fact people are getting help and you got to walk into their personal space to help them with the glasses and eye exams, prescriptions, etc.
“That is why I say it is hard because that mental of not knowing puts a strain on your well-being knowing I am in their face measuring their glasses frames and adjusting their glasses. I do not mind because they are our veterans, and it is what it is.” Says Ford, who works as an Optician at the VA.
New regulations are always being implemented in various positions of businesses. The Covid-19 procedures have added more labor to the employees throughout the VA but on the other hand, Jadea feels they are doing the best they can. Ford gave her personal impute on what she feels about the regulations implemented on her.
“Honestly as far as what they can do now is they working with what they can do now but they can hire more people who do not mind working with the risk of Covid-19, but they are doing the best they can.”, Said Food.
Jadea Ford has worked for The VA Hospital in Tampa for three years now, and she enjoys and loves the work she does. The VA Hospital puts a lot of work and regulations to keep people as safe as possible, but she does not mind the extra steps as it brings her joy to save lives and help veterans in need. The more the vaccines are being distributed the more people will see things go back to normal even in the world of optical.
