Elgin dentist learning to treat patients over the phone
Vu Kong started his High Point Dental practice in Elgin 10 years ago and has since branched out to Schaumburg and Palatine.
Before the coronavirus hit, he employed 26 people. Now he is down to just five.
He temporarily shuttered his other two locations and has consolidated in Elgin.
Kong, whose father and grandfather also were dentists, walks around his office on his phone now, surrounded by darkened patient rooms no longer in use.
He teleconferences with his patients to assess their issues and deals only with emergency cases in person. And then, only the patient is allowed in the office while others idle in the parking lot.
He says he stays in touch with the employees he had to let go, and "They're pretty understanding."
"For us, four to six more months of this and it will be difficult to stay in business," he said.
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