We know that while you long for a return to normal, your priority is protecting yourself and others. You may even be anxious about returning to normal, whether that means going to work, running errands, or returning for care. The COVID-era has changed the world – the new focus is on safety.
At Downsview Chiropractic, our vision is to provide World class patient centered care of clinical excellence in an environment of exceptional customer service. In the COVID-era, this also means that we remain aligned with Public Health directives that are aimed at keeping you safe.
Below is a look at the various levels of precautions we are taking. For now our plan is not to focus on a return to normal, but to plan for your return in the new-normal.
GUIDE FOR PATIENTS – IN PERSON VISITS
- Active Screening by phone or online before your in-person visit. You will be screened again upon arriving to the clinic.
- By-appointment only – For everyone’s protection, we can not accept walk-in appointments at this time. We have created a patient flow schedule to promote physical distancing and sanitization. We will use your scheduled appointment time to guide when you can enter the clinic.
- Passive Screening – Please adhere to the signage we’ve added to the clinic.
- Patients only – Anyone travelling with you will be asked to wait outside the clinic. If you are a caregiver or require a caregiver, please let us know when booking your appointment so that we can prepare accommodations for you.
- Personal protection – We are requiring patients to wear a mask. You are encouraged to bring your own from home. If you arrive without your own mask you will have the option to purchase one or to reschedule your appointment.
- Physical distancing will be respected by keeping 2 meters apart from any other person in the clinic at all times possible.
- Hand sanitizing is required on entry to the clinic. There is a cleaning station and prominent sign posted at the entrance for your guidance. Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the clinic for additional opportunities to keep hands sanitized. You are highly advised to sanitize hands when you leave as well.
- Hand sanitizing – Patients should not touch their faces during their appointments. If patients need to cough or sneeze at any point, they are to advise the practitioner as soon as possible and direct it into a tissue or their sleeve at the elbow. They will then be required to sanitize again.
- Sanitization – Personal items should not be brought in to the clinic. Please keep these to a minimum.
- Sanitization – Please plan your payment ahead. We are not accepting cash or cheque at this time. Payment can be made by debit or credit tap, credit pre-payment, or online payment. If you require receipts or statements, we recommend you request a digital copy.
- Sanitization – Unless there is urgent need, we ask that patients not to use our washroom facilities.
GUIDE FOR CLINIC TEAM – IN PERSON VISITS
- Active screening of staff conducted upon arrival to the clinic. The clinic team will be routinely monitored.
- Active screening of patients conducted upon scheduling by phone and again upon their arrival to the clinic.
- Passive screening promoted with signs posted at points of entry.
- Passive screening – If a patient, member of the clinic team, or any other person who may enter the clinic, exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, they must stay home/go home/be sent home. This occurrence must be reported to the local medical officer of health.
- Physical distancing promoted with signs posted throughout the clinic.
- Physical distancing promoted with rearranged facilities, and with use of a plexiglass barrier at the front desk.
- Physical distancing promoted by minimizing the number of staff and patients present at any one time, use of posted signs, and use of practical measures for physical separation.
- Physical distancing will be respected by keeping 2 meters apart from any other person in the clinic at all times possible.
- Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and measures will be used by our clinical team, including the use of procedure masks when delivering care.
- Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) – All staff will have specific work clothing and specific home clothing, and clean work clothing each day.
- Sanitization of diagnostic and treatment tools and surfaces between each patient visit.
- Sanitization is promoted by removal of soft material items.
- Sanitization of high touch surfaces in patient-traffic areas after each patient.
- Sanitization with regular periodic environmental cleaning.
- Sanitization continuity will be prioritized with protocols to replenish cleaning and PPE supplies.
- Hand sanitizing by washing between each patient visit. Prominent signage of proper procedures is posted.
- Hand sanitizing is required on entry to the clinic. Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the clinic for additional opportunities to keep hands sanitized. You are highly advised to sanitize hands when you leave as well.
- All staff have familiarized and agree to our Precautions Plan before returning to work.
GUIDE FOR TELEHEALTH VISITS
Maybe home schooling or work from home make it more challenging to come for an in-person visit.
Maybe there is a reason you are considered at high risk in the COVID-era.
Anyone who has visited our North York clinic any time over the past many years, would have likely heard us talk about “multi-modal care“. We didn’t invent the term – turns out it is the gold standard approach for many of the neck and low back pain disorders that brings people to our clinic in the first place. We’ve been using this approach with our patients for almost ‘as long as it’s been a thing‘. We’ve even written about it in previous blogs and newsletters.
‘Multi-modal care‘ refers to multiple ‘modes’ (or services) toward a goal. It is a custom tailored to you mixture of services including; manual therapies, patient-education, behaviour modifications, therapeutic exercise, baseline fitness, and assurances. Turns out there is still so much that can be done to help you through Virtual Visits.
- Active screening – Clinic team members will consider whether in-person treatment is the most advisable one taking into consideration the patient’s other conditions and whether they fall into a high-risk group. When appropriate, telehealth (virtual visits) should be considered as an option for the delivery of care.