Clinic Protocols During Covid-19
Protocols are in place with the goal of reducing the risk of exposure to the virus that causes Covid-19 for both patients and practitioner within the clinic setting. The overall aim of these protocols is to reduce potential transmission by:
- required ongoing self-assessment for signs of Covid-19 related illness in both patient and therapist
- reducing all physical, non-treatment related interactions within the practice environment
- following hand hygiene requirements
- avoid face touching
- enhanced cleaning protocols
- appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- meeting professional obligations, particularly related to informed consent
SELF ASSESSMENT:
All patients will be required to complete the online BC Covid-19 symptom self-assessment tool one day prior to their booked appointment, and stay home if they experience any symptoms of Covid-19. The tool can be found at https://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en
Therapist will phone patient one day before their booked appointment to discuss using the self-assessment tool and verify that it has been completed.
Therapist will use the BC Covid-19 self assessment tool herself, daily, and commits to cancelling all appointments if symptoms appear.
Symptoms of Covid-19 are similar to other respiratory illnesses and seasonal allergies. An appointment must be cancelled immediately if either the patient or therapist presents with even mild symptoms that my be signs of Covid-19, including fever, cough, chills, shortness or breath, sore throat, stuffy nose, loss of sense of smell, headache or severe muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite.
As part of the consent form, patients must commit to understanding that while we have taken all possible measures to minimize risk or viral transmission, the nature of massage therapy means that physical distancing is not possible in the treatment room. Patients with higher risk profiles should consider alternatives forcare and postpone treatment.
UPON ARRIVAL:
Therapist will advise patients of her current self-assessment results upon their arrival at the clinic. Patients will be asked to share their own results, by confirming that they have done a pre-screening and have no signs of Covid-19. Masks must be worn at all times in the clinic. Patients are asked to please wear a mask in.
PHYSICAL DISTANCING:
Only one patient is permitted in the clinic space at any given time. Patients must arrive unaccompanied. Therapist and patient will maintain a space of 2 meters (6 feet) in all clinic areas outside the treatment room. Patients are asked not to linger in the office area.
There is nothing remaining in the clinic that cannot be disinfected. Appointment times are staggered to allow for time to clean between appointments, and ensure that patients are not in the office at the same time. Patients are required to wait in their vehicles until the therapist opens the front door for them, so that they may enter without needing to touch the door handle.
Upon entering, patients will go immediately to wash their hands for minimum 20 seconds (poster provided in washroom for guidance). Single use hand towels are provided, with step-open receptacle to place used towels in after.
Therapist will wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds before client arrives, before and after disinfecting spaces, before and after donning and doffing gloves and other PPE, before and after entering treatment room.
It is not possible to maintain physical distancing while in the treatment room, but patient will wear mask at all times and face shield during treatment. maintaining as much physical space as possible at all times. Tissue is available inside treatment room, office and washroom that may be used to open doors, or to address an itch and/or touch face for any reason. Musculature of the face will not be treated at this time.
ENHANCED CLEANING:
All high touch surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected between patients, regardless of appearances. High touch surfaces include (but are not limited to) light switches, door knobs, POS machine, electronic devices, tables, chairs, desk, stools, faucets, treatment table, table levers, face cradle, lotion bottles, Kleenex boxes, pens, hand sanitizer and soap dispenser containers. No thermophores, table heaters, infrared sauna or thermal palms will be used. Cleaning and Disinfectant for Clinic Setting Poster's are on display in office and treatment room.
All linens, including blankets and pillow cases are single use only and will be laundered using high heat, detergent and bleach between each use.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:
Therapist will wear face mask and shield at all times in the clinic. Therapist will wear non-latex gloves when appropriate. (when cleaning, at patient request, and if therapist has a cut or injury. therapist will wear an new apron over clinic attire for each patient.
PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS:
If a patient alleges they caught Covid-19 from an RMT, the RMT must immediately call public health at 811 and report alleged transmission, providing both the RMTs name and the name and contact information of the patient. The RMT must not provide any further massage therapy treatment to anyone until public health has investigated and provided direction. The RMT must immediately self-isolate until the matter has been investigated and public health direction has been provided.
Asymptomatic transmission of the coronavirus is an unavoidable risk of practice until we have acquired herd immunity, there is an effective treatment or vaccine against Covid-19. We have put into place protocols to help mitigate that risk as outlined here, but patients must understand that any massage therapy treatment involves some risk of Covid-19 transmission. The therapist is following protocol to help reduce or mitigate risk where possible, but that risk cannot be reduced to zero. The patient consents to the treatment despite some risk, and the RMT will document patient consent in advance and at every treatment.
