If you are reading this, you probably received an email, or ventured here from one of our social media accounts. Thank you for checking in! This post will highlight the things we have continued to do as well as some things we are reinstating in our office and outdoor activities. We are open for suggestions from you, so feel free to leave a comment.
Bringing back the Covid Intake Form
When we first re-opened in 2021, all clients were asked to complete a Covid19 questionnaire. You may still see some similar questions on your intake form, but we will bring back the full questionnaire for all appointments. The Covid19 questionnaire contained questions such as:
Have you had a fever in the last 24 hours of 100 or above?
Do you now, or have you recently had any respiratory or flu symptoms, sore throat or shortness of breath?
Have you been in contact with anyone in the last 14 days who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or has corona virus-type symptoms?
Bringing back the mask
If you have visited us recently, you would notice that I am wearing a mask. We feel that it is our obligation to wear a mask during your appointment given the nature of how Covid is spread. We also want you to know that we have started to wear masks at all times in the building, even when no one is around. While it isn't mandatory for clients to wear masks, we do encourage you to wear one when you arrive for your appointment at least until you are on the treatment table.
The Treatment Room
A lot of our cleaning practices have always been in place. For example, OSHA requires us to use an EPA-registered disinfectant that is labeled as bactericidal, viricidal, and fungicidal. I have always been aware of the possibility to transmit germs and viruses, so since I started my practice I have used an EPA-registered disinfectant. Another requirement is to clean and disinfect all surfaces. My rule is if you or I can or have possibly touched it, it will be wiped down.
Per OSHA, all porous/soft surfaces must be used only once because they cannot be disinfected. This becomes a bit tricky given that we use a table warmer on the treatment table. To ensure that you receive the benefit of a warm table without the risks of cross contamination, we use a moisture barrier that separates the linens from the table warmers. Speaking about linens, it goes without saying that all linen (sheets and towels), implements (stones, cups, Gua Sha tools, esthetic implements) are cleaned, and disinfected after each client. Lotion and oil bottles are wiped down after each client.
I use wipes and a spray as my two method of disinfecting surfaces. Both kill the SARS/Coronovirus, but some surfaces are hard to spray so I’ll use the wipe. A new wipe is used for each surface. I use multiple wipes for disinfecting the room and the door knobs in the suite. The reason for this is because the disinfectant needs to remain on the surface for a certain length of time. One wipe isn’t damp enough to cover every surface in the room.
Also in the treatment room is an air purifier. The air purifier is kept on during our session, and is placed on full blast as we are cleaning the room between appointments. The filters are inspected, cleaned, and changed regularly in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.
Additional Staggered Time
Previously, we would allow 15 minutes between appointments to allow for clean up, and to "turn the room over". We are increasing this time between clients to 30 minutes for appointments with certain add-ons. While much of what needs to be done can be done within 15 minutes, We want to make sure we are doing our due diligence to provide a healthy environment. We also ask that you help us by not arriving sooner than 5-minutes of your scheduled appointment time (10-minutes if you must complete additional paperwork). This allows time for us to ensure the treatment room is ready for you, and also avoids clients running into each other between appointments.
You assistance is appreciated
At the end of your treatment, we usually ask you to take your time getting up from the treatment table. We really would like for you to take your time. Nothing kills the relaxation vibes as much as being rushed. You can use this time to ensure you have gathered all of your belongings, put on your mask (if you were wearing one), and settle down on the couch in the room. While you are getting yourself together after your treatment, we are washing our hands, and wiping down door knobs (in the event the other therapist had clients come in for an appointment. Once you are ready to check out, simply open the door of the treatment room, and we will enter to complete the appointment.
We have opened up additional time in our calendar for appointments, so as to not inconvenience you by the increased times between appointments.
We're committed to providing the healthiest environment possible. We thank you for your continued support, and look forward to seeing you at your next appointment!
~Onyeka
