This plan was developed with the goal of reducing the risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 for both patients and the practitioner within our clinical setting. Here, we identify the actions that the therapists at Right Fit Clinic commit to, and that all visiting patients must commit to, in order to resume massage therapy services.
“Coronavirus is transmitted via liquid droplets when a person coughs or sneezes. The virus can enter through these droplets through the eyes, nose or throat if you are in close contact. The virus is not known to be airborne (e.g. transmitted through the particles floating in the air) and it is not something that comes in through the skin. It can be spread by touch if a person has used their hands to cover their mouth or nose when they cough. That’s why we recommend you cough or sneeze into your arm and wash your hands regularly.”
Source: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/how-it-spreads
The overall aim of these protocols is to reduce potential coronavirus transmission by:
- Required ongoing self-assessment for signs of COVID-19 related illness in both the patient and the therapist
- Reducing all physical, non-treatment related interactions among all people within the practice environment (handshakes, hugs, etc) and by offering contactless payment via Credit/Debit tap, E-Transfer & Direct Billing
- Hand hygiene requirements
- Avoiding face touching
- Enhanced cleaning protocols
- Appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for both patient and therapist
- Meeting professional obligations, particularly related to informed consent and liability insurance
Self-Assessment for Symptoms of COVID-19: For Patients & Therapists
Pre-Screening / Prior to Arrival
Patients will be informed about their responsibilities at the time of booking. A notice will be placed on the website, and the online booking software will send them a copy of these protocols as part of a COVID-19 specific consent form they will be required to sign, prior to arriving or at their appointment.
One day prior to their booked appointment, the patient will be required to complete the online BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment tool and to stay home if they experience any symptoms of COVID-19. The tool can be found here: https://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en
The therapist will phone, text or email the patient one day before their booked appointment to discuss using the self-assessment tool and the verify that it has been done.
The therapist will use the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment tool herself, daily and commits to canceling 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 the therapist presents with even mild symptoms of two or more of the following:
Fever, Cough, Chills, Shortness of breath, Sore throat or pain with swallowing, Stuffy or runny nose, Loss of sense of smell, Headache, Muscle aches, Fatigue, & Loss of appetite
COVID-19 Symptoms may range from mild to severe. Patients are required to cancel appointments if they experience what they determine to be ‘just the sniffles,’ ‘seasonal allergies’ or ‘just feeling under the weather,’ on the day of their appointment.
As a part of this consent form, patients must commit to understanding that while we’ve taken all possible measures to minimize risk of viral transmission, the nature of massage therapy means that physical distancing is not possible in the treatment room.
In order for massage therapy treatment to commence the therapist and patient must agree that the therapeutic benefit of massage therapy outweighs any potential consequence of treatment, including the possibility of viral transmission.
Patients must confirm that they have not been in contact with anyone displaying illness, or signs and symptoms of COVID-19 within 14 days prior to their treatment.
Patients with higher risk profiles and/or weakened immune systems should consider alternatives for care and postpone treatment.
Patients who develop even mild illness or symptoms should cancel booked appointments.
They will not be charged a late cancellation fee if they cancel due to illness.
Patients will be required to sign a consent and liability waiver with respect to COVID-19 prior to every appointment.
Upon Arrival
The 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.
Upon arrival patients must confirm that they have done a pre-screening and have no signs of Covid-19 as outlined here: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/symptoms
Masks must be worn by both the therapist and patient at all times within the clinic space. If the patient has a mask, they are asked to bring it with them and wear it when they arrive. Otherwise they will be provided one by the therapist.
Patient must confirm that they have not traveled outside British Columbia within 14 days prior to their appointment.
The treatment will be cancelled immediately if the patient does not meet the pre-screening criteria upon physical presentation at the clinic.
Physical Distancing
Reception Area / Entry into Clinic Space
Only 1 patient/person is permitted in the clinic space at any given time. Patients must arrive unaccompanied.
The therapist is the only other person who will be within the clinic space throughout the duration of the patient’s appointment.
The therapist and the patient will both maintain a space of 2 meters (6 feet) distance between each other in all clinic areas outside the treatment room.
Patients are not permitted to lounge in the clinic reception area before or after the treatment.
Coffee, tea, water and the candy dish have all been removed from the clinic reception area.
Nothing remains in the clinic space that cannot be disinfected after each touch.
Appointment times are staggered to reduce the potential of patients crossing paths, and to allow for time in-between appointments for enhanced cleaning.
Patients are asked to arrive on time and not early or late for appointments.
Patients are required to wait in their vehicles or outside the clinic, until the therapists comes to the clinic door to call them in.
The clinic door will be opened for the patient by the therapist and will be locked behind them to prevent anyone else from entering the space during the course of their treatment. The clinic door will be re-opened by the therapist at the end of the appointment for the patient to leave without touching the door knob.
Within the Treatment Room
It is not possible to maintain physical distancing while in the treatment room.
Mask must be worn at all times.
Patients will be asked to keep all personal belongings together or left in their vehicle for more efficient cleaning.
Restroom for Patient Use
The restroom has been equipped with a soap dispenser and towels for following proper handwashing guidelines.
Soap and fresh paper towels for drying will be available at all times.
Hand Hygiene
Immediately upon entering the clinic space the patient must either:
Go directly to the handwashing sink without touching anything inside the clinic and wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and then dry thoroughly, or
Use the hand sanitizer dispenser that is in the reception area.
If hands are visibly soiled, the patient must opt to wash hands at the handwashing sink.
The therapist will wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds between patients, before and after disinfecting spaces, before donning gloves and after taking gloves off, and before donning or doffing other PPE like facemasks or shields.
Hand washing protocols will be posted visibly in the reception area and at sinks.
Receipts will be emailed, not printed.
In the Treatment Room
The therapist will open the door to the treatment room and allow the patient to enter. The therapist will open/close the door before, during and after the treatment as required – reducing the need for the patient to touch the door.
Patients will be permitted to open the door for themselves after the treatment to let themselves out of the treatment room.
Tissue is available inside the treatment room that the patient may use as a barrier when opening the door.
Hand sanitizer is available within the treatment room; patients will be asked to wash or sanitize their hands after the treatment.
The door and doorknobs will be disinfected between each patient.
Avoid Face Touching
The therapist will communicate with the patient that coronavirus can be transmitted by touch if droplets are on the hand when it touches the face, as it can transfer those infected droplets to the mouth, nose or eyes.
Tissue will be available throughout the clinic: in the reception area, treatment room and washroom in order that patients and the therapist may use tissue to address an itch and/or touch the face for any other reason.
The therapist will wear a mask at all times.
The patient must also wear a mask (Update: Nov 19 2020)
Intraoral and external TMJ treatments will not be conducted at this time.
Musculature of the face will not be palpated or treated at this time.
Enhanced Cleaning
Time has been scheduled between patients to allow for thorough cleaning of the treatment room.
Visibly soiled surfaces will be cleaned followed by disinfection with a Canada Health Approved for use against Covid-19 disinfectant as listed here: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/disinfectants/covid-19/list.html
Common areas will be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a day, including the restroom and between each patient.
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, table surfaces, chairs, stools, window
coverings, faucets, etc.
* The treatment table, table levers, face cradle, lotion bottles will be immediately disinfected after each treatment.
* No hydrotherapy supplies, thermophores or covers will be used.
* All linens, including blankets and pillow cases are single use only and will be laundered using high heat and detergent between each use.
Personal Protective Equipment
The therapist will wear a face mask at all times in the clinic.
The patient must wear a mask at all times.
The therapist will wear non-latex gloves if/when appropriate.
Gloves may be appropriate when over-use of cleaning and/or chemicals causes skin irritation, or when the therapist’s hands or skin of the hands are otherwise inured.
Hands will be washed prior to putting the gloves on and immediately after removing them.
Gloves will be worn by the therapist at the patient’s request.
If patients have their own 3 layer fabric face mask, they are requested to bring it.
Professional Obligations
Liability Insurance
The therapist carries professional liability insurance through Lackner McLennan Insurance
The therapist is following all Health and Safety guidelines outlines by the Registered Massage Therapist Association of BC, The College of Massage Therapists of BC, and the Provincial Health Officer and that they are taking all reasonable precautions to clean and disinfect the clinic and all surfaces within the treatment room.
No guarantees have been made by the therapist that the patient may not come into contact with COVID-19 at or during an appointment.
In the Event That a Patient Tests Positive for COVID-19 Having Been to a Massage Therapy Treatment within the 14-Days Prior to Onset of Symptoms
The patient must contact the therapist and inform them of positive test results and possible transmission of the virus immediately.
In the Event That a Patient Alleges they Caught COVID-19 from the Therapist
The therapist will immediately call public health at 8-1-1 to report the alleged transmission, providing both the name of the RMT and the name and contact details of the patient.
The patient must agree to the release of this information in order to receive treatment.
All massage therapy appointments will be cancelled, and the Therapist will cease to provide services until Public Health has investigated and provided direction.
The therapist will immediately self-isolate until Public Health has investigated and provided direction.
In the Event That the Therapist Catches COVID-19 or Displays Symptoms of COVID-19
The therapist will immediately self-isolate
The therapist will call Public Health at 8-1-1 to report the symptoms and request access to COVID-19 testing
If testing is granted: All massage therapy appointments will be cancelled, and the therapist will cease to provide service until test results are returned negative.
If testing proves positive: The therapist will follow Public Health directives in informing patients treated over the last 14 days about potential transmission.
If testing is not granted: All massage therapy appointments will be cancelled and the therapist will cease to provide services for a minimum of 10 days beyond onset of symptoms, and/or until symptom cease.
In the Event That the Therapists Comes in Close Contact with Someone Showing Signs of Illness or Tests Positive with COVID-19
The therapist will immediately self-isolate
All massage therapy appointments will be cancelled and the therapist will cease to provide services until: The Close contact has been tested for COVID-19 and the results prove negative and the therapist is well. OR After self-isolating for 14 days and having no symptoms or fever develop OR Being cleared by a Public Health Official
Asymptomatic Spreaders
Asymptomatic transmission of the coronavirus is an unavoidable risk of practice until we’ve 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 in the preceding documentation.
No guarantees have been made by the therapist, that the patient will not come into contact with COVID-19 at or during an appointment.
Informed Consent
In the current environment of COVID-19 risk, informed consent requires that the patient be informed and understands 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 the patient’s consent in advance and at every treatment