With the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hawai‘i, everyone seemed to stay away from doctors’ offices for fear of contracting the virus. Because of the steep drop in patient visits, many physicians were forced to lay off health care staff and close their doors because they had no way to pay their employees.

Using careful triage, over-the-phone telemedicine and following the CDC guidelines, Dr. M. Pierre Pang was able to keep Pacific Eye Surgery Center open for urgent and emergent eye conditions, limiting patient visits to acute eye emergencies to help ease the patient load at urgent care centers and emergency rooms. Dr. Pang never refused urgent or emergent patient care during this unprecedented time. Most of all, he never abandoned his patients.

At PESC, Dr. Pang has followed and implemented all CDC recommendations, which include: taking patients’ temperatures prior to entering waiting rooms, physical distancing, utilizing masks at all times, practicing proper hand hygiene, and properly disposing of any potentially contaminated protective equipment and materials in designated waste receptacles. Waiting rooms, exam rooms and testing sites are routinely cleaned with alcohol and hydrogen peroxide sprays. All health care workers are protected with sterile gowns, masks, face shields and gloves.

In addition to the extensive patient safety changes made at PESC, Dr. Pang was instrumental in helping to establish the Aloha Free Medical Clinic (AFMC). Located at the Kalihi Medical Building, AFMC has helped hundreds of patients obtain health care insurance, refill their prescriptions and get referrals to other health care facilities for more urgent and emergent medical care. Dr. Pang offered AFMC a spacious place to practice medicine and help uninsured patients obtain health coverage.

At Pacific Eye Surgery Center, Dr. Pang and his staff remain passionate about providing the best eye care possible for their patients and providing access to health care for the people of Hawai‘i.

Pacific Eye Surgery Center, Inc., 2055 North King Street #100, Honolulu, HI 96819, (808) 533-7400

94-871 Farrington Highway #200, Waipahu, HI 96797, (808) 677-7400