(Updated Fall, 2023)
Quick Link: COVID-19 Pre-Appointment Questionnaire
Happy Fall!
As I sit down to write this, the first rain of fall has watered our plants and (thankfully) washed our cars. We’re settling into the time of boots and hoodies and scarves and even though I know many miss summer already I’m over the moon to have my favorite season back!!
It’s hard to believe it’s been over three years since we started this pandemic journey together. Our world has shifted and we shifted with it. While we are keeping an eye on rising covid numbers as we spend more time inside, the good news is that deaths are down and many are having less severe symptoms. Our office has moved to optional masking except if you are having any allergy (or the like) symptoms and ask that you reschedule if you are sick, have covid, or have been exposed to covid.
As always, I look forward to working with you.
Many thanks,
Theresa
(Previous information for reference - March, 2022)
Hello all,
I’m sorry I haven’t updated in a while. I’ve sat down to write this several times over the last few weeks but never seem to have the right words. It’s now March of 2022 and the indoor mask mandate has been removed for most places. As a healthcare clinic we still require masks and will continue to for the foreseeable future. I know everyone would like to jump back into “normal” life and put this in the past but we still have a pandemic going on and I ask that for the week or two before your appt you limit unnecessary exposure as much as possible. First, I know a lot of you are in pain, stressed, and fighting chronic conditions. I know these are not ideal situations and that we would all like to return to “normal”. But “normal” as we knew it can not exist. So let’s talk about the new “normal”. To discuss the new normal we need to discuss risk and informed consent.
How we go back to work has been the subject of much discussion. The CDC (Center for Disease Control), the Oregon Health Authority, the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists, and other health care experts have weighed in with guidelines and information. I’ll start with what we know regarding risk and COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2).
People are most likely to get infected by respiratory droplets being spread in close quarters. These respiratory droplets are produced from everyday things like speaking and breathing to “extremes” like coughing, sneezing, etc. All of these produce respiratory droplets. All can carry the disease. Coughing and sneezing can go as far as six feet. (Hence our six feet physically distancing rule). This disease can linger in the air and on surfaces. Being inside is more of a risk than being outside.
Wearing masks helps reduce these risks. Not touching your eyes, mouth, or face until you have washed your hands reduces risk. Physically distancing helps reduce these risks. Limiting time with people (people you don’t live with) reduces risks. Cleaning surfaces after someone touches it reduces risks. People who are sick should stay home. People who are showing symptoms should quarantine for two weeks (after the fever breaks) and let the health department know. Anyone exposed to the virus should self-quarantine for two weeks. It is important to note here that anyone exposed to the virus should self-quarantine (regardless of whether they feel sick) because there have been several cases of asymptomatic transmission. Asymptomatic means that the person who is infected is not showing any signs of illness. (More on that here.) These are the bare minimum all of us must do to help contain this very dangerous virus and protect one another.
Businesses are held to a higher standard. As you start to venture out for more services, please know that we are required to conduct business a certain way. For more information, please read Oregon Governor Brown’s Reopening Guidelines (this is for personal services which massage therapists are under). Note that these are also the bare minimum to reopen.
Massage, by nature, is not low risk. We must be within six feet, we are inside, and with our patients and clients for an extended amount of time. A medium risk job, massage inherently requires us to go against many of the things we know we should do to reduce risk. We must also take into consideration that there is much we don’t know about COVID-19 and what we do know is changing as more information becomes available. We initially thought COVID-19 affected the lungs and that relatively healthy people were at low risk. But then we saw an increase in “strange” symptoms like blood clots and stroke in young people. Blood clots are a major contraindication for massage and there is still much we don’t know about COVID. With each new variant the disease presents differently and while symptoms may be “mild/milder” with each new variant the long term effect of any exposure is still unknown.
So where do we go from here and what does our new normal look like?
With Multnomah county “open” Brownstone Bodywork will still work with the following general stipulations:
There will be set days and times with limited availability. (No walk ins)
Patients will be called the day before and asked symptom and travel questions. (Failure to have these questions answered could mean the cancelation of the appt.)
When you arrive you will be directed to the bathroom where you will wash your hands and then wait at the entrance to the suite. (Please arrive directly at the time of your appt and not early or late. Feel free to wait in your car and text or call me when you arrive.)
If you have ANY cold or flu symptoms or have been recently exposed (including stomach/digestion flu symptoms) please reschedule your appt.
If you are unvaccinated I will take your temperature and use a pulse oximeter. (Anyone with a temperature of 100 or more will be sent home and I will follow up to ensure no one has been exposed.)
If you are unvaccinated I ask you not eat indoors at a restaurant or with people outside your bubble for at least two weeks before your appt.
Well fitting N95 or equivalent masks are required (I will provide some but it’s better to bring your own).
I will be wearing scrubs and a mask.
You will be required to wear a mask (when facedown you can take the mask off but there will be a pillowcase on/around the face cradle).
I will be running a UV sanitizer in the room and in the main areas.
As always any surface you touch will be cleaned thoroughly with medical grade cleaner.
Sheets used during a session will be kept in a zipped (and cleanable) container. The container will be cleaned regularly.
Lobby and suite areas will be cleaned more often.
Physically distance while waiting for an elevator - there is a max of 4 ppl inside an elevator at any time.
Please bring your own water bottle. Water will no longer be supplied.
Hand sanitizer will be provided in the suite and room but hand washing will be required before entering.
If at all possible, please make your appt the first thing that you do (outside the home - IE don’t go to the grocery store and then go directly to your appt).
If at all possible, please shower and put on clean clothes before you come in.
Please note that these changes are for EVERYONE’s wellbeing. I will do everything I can to limit risk and give you as much information as I have so you can make informed decisions but there is no way I can ensure safety. As we move forward in our new normal, we must have informed consent and honest communication regarding symptoms and activities. I know and value the importance of touch and treatment especially in the face of the additional stress and chaos that is our everyday lives currently. If you don’t feel comfortable coming in but still need assistance, I will be opening up video calls with exercises and self massage. I look forward to continuing to be a part of your healthcare team. - Theresa