Is it Safe to go to Physical Therapy Appointments During the Coronavirus Pandemic?

1. Is it Safe to go to Physical Therapy Appointments During the Coronavirus Pandemic? This question has been top of mind for many patients and their families since the pandemic hit in mid-March. Initially, the flood of ever-changing information made it difficult to know how to proceed. During the first days of social distancing, we spent hours upon hours on both the CDC’s and APTA’s websites gathering information about how to reconcile our high contact profession with social distancing requirements. We’re happy to report that we’ve made our clinic as safe as possible for both staff and patients during this chaotic time! Here’s what we’ve done: Getting In and Out the Door Safely

2. We’ve done a walk-through inspection from getting out of your car to walking into our spacious gym and minimized opportunities for infection spread on commonly touched surfaces. Doors propped open  No magazines  Sign in pens sanitized after each use  Plastic barrier at check in desk  Minimize Infection Risk The best way to limit spread is to minimize the risk that infection even enters our clinic in the first place. As a result, we’ve taken several measures. Screen patients for symptoms when scheduling appointments  Signage upon entry which prohibits access to those who answer yes to  any COVID-19 screening questions Take temperatures of all who enter the clinic (including staff)  Waiting room for patients only (no guests)  Protect high-risk patients by advising those who meet the CDC's high risk  category to stay home or participate in telehealth (if appropriate) Advise all patients to bring and wear a mask and gloves  Keep Staff Safe to Continue Providing Care Patients interact with most of our staff members when attending in person visits. If any of our staff got infected, it would jeopardize the entire clinic. Fortunately this has not happened and we’ve made it a priority that it won’t. N95 masks and gloves for clinicians used with all patients  Handwashing between all patients following CDC guidelines  Daily screening for temperature and symptoms 

3. Self-quarantine required if any physical contact with infected or suspected  individuals occurs (no such instances to date) Maximize Social Distancing Governor Northam’s executive order for Virginia limits gatherings of 10 or more people. While essential healthcare services are exempt from this, we have implemented procedures to adhere anyway because we go above and beyond for our patients. Changed the schedule to limit the number of people in the clinic  Removed equipment to increase the distance between all equipment and  treatment tables Limit the number of treating therapists at any one time to minimize contact  between patients in the gym Maintain 6 ft distance during non-contact treatments  Sanitize, Sanitize, Sanitize! Our hard-working PT aides, Alenka and Nathalie, have revved their normal cleaning procedures into hyperdrive. Their systematic prowess with our medical-grade cleaning agents enables our clinicians to focus on treatment knowing that their surroundings are safe. Cleaning all surfaces prior to the start of business each day  Used equipment sanitized at a cleaning station prior to next use  Hand sanitizer available throughout the clinic for patients before, during  and after sessions Special Measures for Pool Safety Did you know that chlorine kills the coronavirus? Our aquatic therapy program is open during this time and is safer than ever before due to stepped up procedures by our partners at Central Park Aquatics and our Certified Aquatics Therapy PT, Jessica Beech. Pool open only for our patients, closed to public 

4. Lifeguards arrive early and sanitize everything prior to opening and after  closing Entry to building restricted to one door directly to the pool to limit contact  with surfaces and rooms Doors propped open between pool and bathroom access  Bathrooms supplied with wipes to wipe down surfaces after each use  Locker rooms are closed  Patients stay at opposite ends and in separate lanes of the large lap pool if  their appointments overlap (well over 6 ft distance) All equipment including the pool lift sanitized between uses  Masks worn during close patient contact  Telehealth For some patients, no amount of safety measures for in-person treatment will ever be enough and we totally understand. For many conditions, we now have the option of starting or continuing treatment remotely via telehealth. Many insurers have recognized that pandemic-related social distancing will last longer than initially expected and that healthcare needs will continue regardless. To take advantage of 21st century technology, most insurers will now reimburse for treatments that occur via video chat. If you’re questioning whether telehealth is right for you, how PT can even occur remotely and if your insurer will cover it, check out this link to our telehealth services. Whatever your comfort level and needs during this unprecedented time, we are here for you! Original Source: https://www.fyzical.com/manassas/blog/Is-it-Safe-to-go-to-Physical -Therapy-Appointments-During-the-Coronavirus-Pandemic