It is paramount that this protocol is in place. Patients will be screened multiple times, including at least one screen prior to arriving at their appointment. Our staff and practitioners will ensure these three screening procedures will occur with each patient for each appointment:
1. At appointment booking, or appointment reminder email, using our clinic screening form or the BC Symptom Self-Assessment Tool;
2. During a phone call within 24 hours prior to the appointment;
3. When they first enter the clinic and/or the treatment room.
Our practitioners will document that the screening was done. Practitioners will refuse to treat if their patient refuses to participate in any of the three screening processes.
SCREENING QUESTIONS
For the safety of visitors to the clinic, the patient must answer these questions to the best of their ability. This screening, based on the BC Symptom Self-Assessment Tool, is subject to updates as we learn more about COVID-19. If they choose, our practitioners and staff may direct patients to use our clinic screening form instead.
1. Do any of the following apply to yourself, or anyone in your household? (Please check all that apply and list the member of your household, as well as any other relevant information):
Heart Conditions; Undergoing Cancer Treatment, Moderate-Severe Asthma; Habitual Smoker; Chronic Lung Disease; Poorly Controlled HIV/AIDS; Type I or Type II Diabetes; Severe Obesity: Liver Disease: Age over 65; Chronic Kidney Disease (and undergoing dialysis); Nursing Home or Long-Term Care Facility Residency; Recent Bone Marrow or Organ Transplant; Current Pregnancy (# of weeks; complications; etc.); Corticosteroids or Other Immune Weakening Medications (type and duration), Other Immune System Deficiencies or Pre-Existing Conditions;
Practitioners will discuss the risks versus the benefits of anyone who selected any of the above. The decision to continue with the appointment will only occur when both the practitioner and patient fully understand the nature of the patient’s health condition, the possible added risk of COVID-19 to that patient, and both individuals are comfortable with the precautions in place.
2. Approximately how many social contacts outside your household have you had in the past week? Note: One social contact is one place or action visited outside your home. (e.g. grocery store; 2 meter apart walk with a friend; going to work; etc.)
The practitioner will also disclose their social contacts, giving the practitioner and the patient the opportunity to discuss and establish trust in each others’ approach to safety regarding COVID-19.
3. Have you, or has someone in your household, ever been diagnosed with COVID-19? If yes, please list the date of last symptoms.
If the answer is yes and the date is less than 10 days prior to the appointment date, the practitioner or staff member will cancel the appointment and re-book for a date at least 10 days after last symptoms.
4. Have you, or someone in your household, had close contact (whether or not for providing care) with a person having a presumed or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19? If yes, please list the date of resolution of that person’s symptoms and/or the date of last contact with that person.
If the answer is yes and the date of resolution or last contact is less than 14 days prior to the appointment date the practitioner or staff member will cancel the appointment and re-book for a date at least 14 days after resolution or last contact.
5. If your answer to question #4 was yes, AND you are a healthcare provider working with COVID-19 positive patients, have you adhered to strict personal protective equipment protocol? What is your role in working with COVID-19 positive patients?
Our practitioners will individually decide if they are comfortable treating healthcare workers who are in direct contact with COVID-19 positive patients. We completely understand and honour that our doctors and nurses are very well trained in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and have strict protocol to follow when PPE fails. Our practitioners who decide to treat healthcare workers will cancel the appointment if there has been a failure in the healthcare worker’s PPE within 14 days prior to the appointment, OR if the healthcare worker does not meet any other criteria in the screening process. The practitioner will also disclose to ALL or their patients that they are currently treating healthcare workers who are in direct contact with COVID-19 positive patients.
6. Have you, or has someone in your household, traveled outside British Columbia within the last 14 days?
If the answer is yes, our practitioners and staff will cancel the appointment and re-book at least 14 days after the patient’s (or household member’s) return home.
7. Are you, or someone in your household, experiencing any of the following symptoms (Please check all that apply):
Moderate-Severe Difficulty Breathing (e.g. struggling to breathe; speaking in single words; etc.); Severe Chest Pain; Difficulty Waking Up; Confusion; Losing Consciousness; Mild-Moderate Shortness of Breath, Inability to Lie Down AND/OR Manage a Chronic Health Condition because of Breathing Difficulties.
If the answer is yes to any of the above, the practitioner or staff member will cancel the appointment and direct the patient to do one of the following: 1) Call 8-1-1; 2) Go to https://bc.thrive.health/; OR 3) Contact their physician for further guidance and advice. The patient can reschedule later after they are safe to be treated.
8. Are you, or is someone in your household, experiencing any of the following cold, flu or COVID-19-like symptoms, even mild ones? If yes, please indicate if this is due to an existing condition (provide the name of the condition), or is a regularly experienced symptom.
Fever; Chills; Cough; Shortness of Breath; Sore Throat and Painful Swallowing; Stuffy or Runny Nose; Loss of Sense of Smell; Headache; Unusual Muscle Aches; Fatigue; Loss of Appetite;
If the response to any 2 of these questions is yes, the patient cannot have a treatment. Practitioners will cancel the appointment and direct the patient to do one of the following: 1) Call 8-1-1; 2) Go to https://bc.thrive.health/; OR 3) Contact their physician for further guidance and advice. The patient can reschedule later after they are safe to be treated.
PATIENT ARRIVAL AT CLINIC
Patients arriving for their appointments will be instructed by practitioners and staff to do the following:
- Patients will remain in their vehicle, or other waiting area outside the clinic, until a staff member or their practitioner calls their mobile phone or physically collects them at their appointment time.
- Patients are to come into the clinic alone and not bring spouses or children, unless required for mobility or personal assistance. This is important to maintain social distancing in treatment rooms and our small lobby space.
- Patients must wear a clean mask prior to entry. Upon entry into the clinic, patients must sanitize their hands with the provided hand sanitizer.
- Patients bringing their own mask is recommended. In the event a patient does not have a mask, or the patient’s own mask is unclean or was continuously worn for a long period, the clinic will provide either a disposable mask for a fee.
SUPPLIES: CONSIDERATIONS AND PROCUREMENT
The current risk of COVID-19 has made procurement of many items difficult or impossible. Below are considerations taken to ensure our clinic environment as safe as possible all visitors. If we find difficulty meeting our considerations and supplies can not be found, Dominelli Massage Therapy & Wellness will remain closed or temporarily cancel appointments until those necessities are in place.
TREATMENT ROOM, LOBBY & SUPPLY ROOM
The following furnishing considerations will be implemented:
- Laundry hampers that are easy to clean and disinfect.
- Frequently emptied garbage bins in common areas and treatment rooms.
- Cleanable chairs in waiting and treatment rooms, albeit reduced or temporarily removed.
- Treatment room and common areas furnishings that are washable or wipeable.
- Dedicated cleanable areas for patients possessions.
CLEANING SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT
- Hard surface cleaners and vinyl cleaner/disinfectants approved and listed on the government of Canada’s website. Found at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health- products/disinfectants/COVID-19/list.html
- Reusable cleaning cloths for disinfecting and available for door opening (washed after every use).
- Disinfectant wipes for all hard, non-porous surfaces.
- Spray bottles for hard surface cleaners and vinyl surface cleaners.
- Covers for all bolsters, pillows, heating pads, for easy cleaning and/or laundering.
- Linens to be washed between every appointment in approved sanitization process.
- Hand soap with touchless or cleanable pump dispenser in the washroom.
- Freshly laundered hand towels for single use drying hands.
- Hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) in touchless or cleanable pump dispensers in the lobby and all treatment rooms.
THERAPIST INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES
From a risk management perspective, therapeutic treatment takes place in an enclosed space where the therapist and patient are unable to socially distance. Further cross transmission is a risk given that practitioners will interact with a number of patients in a day. No in-person appointment is risk free, even if the patient and massage therapist appear well. It is essential that health care workers are kept healthy, safe, and able to provide care and service in all settings. As such, practitioners will adhere to the infection control requirements listed below.
TREATMENT ROOM
