COVID19 RETURN TO WORK CLINIC PROTOCOL
What is COVID19 Pandemic?
The whole world is affected by COVID19. This pandemic has affected the services all over the province, in Canada and globally. Please go to Public Health Ontario-covid-19 to learn more current information.
GRADUAL RESTART OF DEFERRED SERVICES: UPDATED GOVERNMENT ORDER (MAY 27/20).
The government’s order was recently updated on May 26,2020. With the updated order (Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Professionals, attached) Massage Therapists (RMTs) are now permitted to gradually restart Massage Therapy services.
In the gradual restart of services, RMTs must:
. Comply with requirements in the Government of Ontario’s COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector Restart (May 26, 2020 or as current), including the hierarchy of hazard controls;
. Prioritize clients with essential care needs while gradually resuming practice. Treatment is considered essential when the client’s overall health or function would considerably decline if treatment were not provided (ie, lead to hospitalization or other serious health consequences);
. Adhere to the COVID-19 Pandemic – Practice Guidance for Massage Therapists;
. Restart Massage Therapy gradually, ensuring enough time between appointments to clean and disinfect the practice environment; and
. Regularly look for updates on the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 webpage and the CMTO webpage, as the pandemic continues to evolve
COVID-19 SCREENING QUESTIONS:
COVID-19 SELF ASSESSMENT
If you answer yes to any of the following symptoms we cannot book an appointment, or your appointment will be cancelled.
1) Are you currently experiencing any of these issues? Call 911 if you are.
– Severe difficulty breathing (struggling for each breath, can only speak in single words)
– Severe chest pain (constant tightness or crushing sensation)
– Feeling confused or unsure of where you are
– Losing consciousness
2) Are you currently experiencing any of these symptoms? Choose any/all that apply:
– Fever (feeling hot to the touch, a temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher
– Chills
– Cough that’s new or worsening (continuous, more than usual)
– Barking cough, making a whistling noise when breathing
– Shortness of breath (out of breath, unable to breathe deeply)
– Sore throat
– Difficulty swallowing
– Runny nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions)
– Stuffy or congested nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions)
– Lost sense of taste or smell
– Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
– Headache that’s unusual or long lasting
– Digestive issues (nausea / vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain)
– Muscle Aches
– Extreme tiredness that is unusual (fatigue, lack of energy)
– Falling down often
– For young children and infants: sluggishness or lack of appetite
– None of the above
3. Are you in any of these at-risk groups?
. 70 years old or older
. getting treatment that compromises (weakens) your immune system (for example, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, other autoimmune disorder)
. having a chronic (long-lasting health condition (for example, diabetes, emphysema, asthma, heat condition)
. regularly going to a hospital or health care setting for a treatment (for example, dialysis, surgery, cancer treatment)
4. In the last 14 days, have you been in close physical contact with someone who tested positive for the COVID-19?
Close physical contact means:
. being less than 2 metres away in the same room, workspace, or area for over 15 minutes
. living in the same home
5. In the last 14 days, have you been in close physical contact with a person who either:
. is currently sick with a new cough, fever, or difficulty breathing
or
returned from outside of Canada in the last 2 weeks?
Close physical contact means:
. being less than 2 metres away in the same room, workspace, or area for over 15 minutes
. living in the same home
6. Have you traveled outside of Canada in the last 14 days?
MAKING YOUR APPOINTMENTS.
– we will contact you for your first appointment after the re-opening
– online booking is always available beginning July 8, 2020. You will have to answer the COVID-19 screening questions (on the appointment book tab) and if you answered NO to all the questions, you can proceed to make an online appointment.
– We will call, text or email you the day before to perform the COVID-19 screening. If you didn’t answer NO to all the questions, your appointment will be cancelled.
– If your therapist is not feeling well, we will try to reschedule you to another therapist or to another time with your therapist (DIANA KOPP RMT)
– As part of the guidelines, you are expected to wear either a cloth mask or a disposable mask upon entering the clinic. If you do not have one, we can provide you with a disposable mask for $1.00.
ON THE DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT:
– Please wait outside or wait in your car before your appointment. Wait until you see therapist wave you in or text or call you)
– Please do your best to arrive as close to your appointment time as possible (I may not be able to take you early or extend your appointment if you are late due to strict protocols)
– We will call you if there is any delay to your appointment
– Please be patient and understanding because we need to make sure all is safe to protect you.
– When possible please use restroom facilities at your home but as always clinic washroom is cleaned after each client.
– As you come in the clinic, answer all COVID-19 screening questions. if you answer “NO” to all the questions, we can proceed with the treatment. If you have any symptoms you will not be treated.
– Your temperature will be taken and recorded.
– Please disinfect your hands immediately after payment
– Your therapist will be wearing a new disposable mask at all times (new mask per treatment)
– You will proceed to the treatment room where all surfaces have been disinfected to ensure your safety.
– Your therapist will explain to you about the benefits and risk of your treatment and both of you will sign an informed consent before treatment starts.
– If your therapist feels it is not safe to treat you, the treatment will be cancelled
– If you feel the risk outweighs the benefits of your massage visit, you can cancel your appointment.
– If everything is confirmed safe for both you and your therapist, your treatment will start.
– Your therapist will follow all health protocols from the direction of Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario and the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario to make sure that you are safe
TREATMENT:
– At this time, we will not be providing hydrotherapy treatment such as heating pad, warm cloth or hot stone.
– Once the massage is complete please clean your hands with the hand sanitizer provided and use a paper towel provided to open the door(s).
CLINIC CLEANING
– your therapist will clean the room after each treatment which includes treatment table, stool, chair, oil bottle, handles, and floor.
– we will regularly clean and disinfect the reception area, doors, switches, and bathroom
– newly washed and cleaned sheets, blankets and pillows will be provided for each client
Updated June 2, 2020