top of page

 

 

New Clinic Policies for Patients in Regards to Covid -19

​

At the center we are taking precautions regarding Covid-19 very seriously.  Nothing is more important than ensuring the health and safety of our patients.  Please read the following information carefully so you understand the new changes that have been implemented at the center.

Even though we have taken many measures to minimize the risk of Covid-19 transmission within our center a small risk persists since we will be unable to social distance during the treatment.  For this reason, a mask must be worn at all times and you will be asked to sign both a Covid-19 Health Screening Questionnaire and Waiver and the Covid-19 Consent to Treatment Form at the time of your first treatment. After that we will document and take verbal consent. 

​

In Preparation of  Your Appointment:

Upon booking your appointment, you will receive an email reminder 48 hours before each appointment with a link to a Covid-19 Pre-screening Test.  It is mandatory that you perform this test the day before each appointment through the Jane booking site, so that the results can be accessed by the practitioner prior to your appointment. If you answer yes to any of the questions, your therapist can see this and will call you to talk about your answer to see if it is still ok for you to still attend your appointment.

Your practitioner will also be performing a daily pre-screening test on themselves.  If either you or the practitioner answer yes to the pre-screening questions and it is unwise to attend your appointment, then the appointment will be cancelled. 

​

Booking appointments

I am accepting NEW patients at this time, however please leave a voicemail so that I may contact you directly to book your first appointment.   Online booking is open for current patients.  There will be very limited time to book and reschedule appointments between patients due to our time-consuming disinfecting routine.  You may be asked to call into the office, and we can take care of scheduling matters on the phone. 

​

Payment

As we are attempting to reduce unnecessary contact and limit the time patients spend in the center, we will ask that if possible to use DEBIT (Tap is available) or eTransfer after your appointment.  We will be emailing all receipts for the present time. 

​

The Day of your Appointment

Please bring a mask with you to your appointment. Masks must be worn at all times within the clinic space.  During a massage and lying on your tummy there is a pillow case on the headrest which can allow you to keep the ear loops of your mask on but you are able to lower your mask off your nose and mouth.  When receiving a massage face up, side lying or any other time in the center the mask needs to be fully over your nose and mouth.  

The patient is expected to provide their own mask and they must have it on before entering the clinic premises.  If a patient does not show up with a mask, if available, the center may have a onetime use disposable mask upon arrival for purchase of $2.00 and they must put it on immediately. No mask, no treatment.  The patient will keep their mask on the entire time they are in the clinic space. 

On the day of your appointment please arrive at least 5 minutes before your treatment and 'Wait in your car' until I can connect  with you when I can receive you into the clinic.  We are working on a online "Check In' procedure to allow you to let the therapist know you have arrived.  

Please do not bring children or anyone else with you to your appointment.  This is important as we are working in a small space where social distancing is not possible.  An exception will be made if you require physical assistance from a care giver.  Please let your therapist know if this is an issue for you so that we can take the appropriate precautions for your caregiver.

  • At your appointment time, our practitioner will come out to greet you (both wearing masks) and open the door for you.  Please directly use the hand sanitizer.  

The patient will be required to go over with the therapist and sign the Covid-19 Health Screening Questionnaire and Waiver and the Covid-19 Consent to Treatment Form on the first visit. On subsequent visits the

  • patient and therapist will go over the forms again and then the patient can give verbal consent for each treatment after the first visit.

  • Prior/during your treatment your therapist will use hand sanitizer/wash their hands/use gloves for your treatment.

  • After treatment, use the hand sanitizer and then the therapist will open the door for you.

  • ​

Alderbrook Health & Wellness Center would sincerely like to thank you for taking the time to read this document and for doing your part by cooperating and keeping the center as safe as possible. 

We look forward to seeing you soon!

AHWC Team

​

 

Covid-19 Consent to Treatment form

​

Alderbrook Health & Wellness Center is taking the following steps to minimize risk of exposure to the virus that causes Covid-19. This affects a change in the context of care for our patients by means of:

  • Required ongoing self-assessment for signs of Covid-19 related illness in the patient, staff, and the practitioners

  • Reducing all physical, non-treatment related interactions amongst all people within the center

  • Hand hygiene requirements

  • Avoiding face touching

  • Enhanced cleaning and sanitization protocols

  • Appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) - specifically wearing of face masks for both patient and practitioner while in the center

  • Meeting all professional obligations

  • Spacing appointments further apart to ensure adequate time to thoroughly clean, sanitize in between every appointment, and reduce the number of patients in the same space

  • Patients have been provided a copy of our Safe Return to Work Plan.

  • Requiring patient compliance with the implementation of our new measures.

  • I hereby acknowledge that I understand the above changes and I have had time to ask questions. Despite all the new safety measures that have been implemented I understand there is still a risk of viral Covid-19 transmission that may occur within the center or treatment room.

I give my consent to my present and future care with:

__________________________________________________________(practitioner)

Printed name of Patient: __________________________________________________

Signature of Patient/Gaudian: _____________________________________________

Date: _____________________________________

In the case of a person incapable of providing consent, signature of a parent or guardian, and relationship of person signing is required:

​

 

COVID-19 Health Screening Questionnaire and Waiver

​

  • Do you have a fever, a new cough, a worsening/changed chronic cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing/shortness of breath?

Yes_______ No_______

  • Do you have one or more of the following symptoms: Sore throat, runny nose/sneezing, nasal congestion, hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, decrease or loss of sense of smell, chills, headaches (that are not typical for you), unexplained fatigue/malaise, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or nausea/vomiting?

Yes_______ No_______

  • Do you have a confirmed case of COVID-19 or have you had close contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19?

Yes_______ No_______

  • Have you had close contact with anyone with acute respiratory illness or have you travelled outside of British Columbia in the past 14 days?

Yes_______ No_______

Patient and/or companions exhibiting any of the above symptoms cannot be seen at this center, rather they must contact their family physician, call 811 and go the to https://bc.thrive.health/ for help.  Once you can answer NO to this questionnaire, you may book an appointment (following our Covid -19 protocol) and we will be able to see you in this center.

I understand that while the practitioners/staff at Alderbrook Health & Wellness Center are following the health and safety guidelines outlined by the Registered Massage Therapists, Chiropractic and Naturopathic Colleges of British Columbia, the Provincial Health Officer, and WorkSafeBC BC and that they are taking all reasonable precautions to clean and disinfect the treatment rooms/center, there are no guarantees that I may not come into contact with COVID-19. I absolve the practitioner and center of all liability, including ordinary negligence. I have answered truthfully to all the questions.

Patient Name:_______________________________________________________

Signed:____________________________________________________________

 

Date: _____________________________________________________________

 

 

Plan for Safe Return to Clinical Practice in Respect to Covid-19

​

This Covid-19 safety plan was developed to outline the policies, guidelines, and procedures that we have put in place to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission for patients, staff, and the practitioners.  Here we are identifying the actions that our practitioners commit to, and that all visiting patients MUST commit to, to receive treatment at our clinic.  Not only will this document be available in the office, the patients will also receive an email copy of it prior to their treatment. Our intention with this document is to instill confidence in the patients whom we treat and that we are taking every reasonable precaution to avoid the transmission of Covid-19.

“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 Aim of These Protocols is to Safely Provide Massage Therapy treatments and More Importantly Minimize the Risk of Viral Transmission By:

  • Required ongoing self-assessment for signs of Covid-19 related illness in the patient, staff, and the practitioners

  •  Reducing all physical, non-treatment related interactions amongst all people within the clinic space

  • Hand hygiene requirements

  • Avoiding face touching

  • Enhanced cleaning and sanitization protocols

  • Appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) – specifically wearing of face masks for both the patient and the practitioner while in the center

  • Meeting all professional obligations

  • Spacing appointments further apart to ensure adequate time to thoroughly clean, sanitize in between every appointment, and reduce the number of patients in the same space.

  • Requiring patient compliance and consent with all the new measures taking place

___________________________________________________________

Self-Assessment for Symptoms of Covid-19:

For Patients & Practitioners:

Pre-screening at the time of booking, the day before each treatment, and the day of each treatment is required.

Patients will be informed about their responsibilities at the time of booking.  A notice will also be placed on the website.  An email copy of these protocols will be sent to the patient prior to their appointment.

One day prior to their booked appointment, the patient will be required to complete the Jane Survey BC COVID-19 Symptom Questionaire that is emailed 24 hours before EACH appointment.  They will be required to cancel their appointment if they experience any symptoms of Covid-19 (the cancellation fee in this case will be waived).

​​

The patient must fill out the emailed COVID-19 Prescreening Questionnaire 24 hour prior to their appointment through the Jane booking site, so that the results can be accessed by the practitioner.  The practitioner will also be taking a self-test on a daily basis and commits to cancelling all appointments if symptoms appear.

If there are no signs of COVID-19 by either practitioner or patient, and the Screening/Questionnaire form is negative then the treatment can occur.  If not, the treatment will be cancelled.

If the patient shows up for their appointment and displays physical signs of illness the appointment will immediately be cancelled.

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 practitioner presents with even mild symptoms that may be signs of Covid-19 including:

  • Fever

  • Cough

  • Chills

  • Shortness of breath

  • Sore throat or pain with swallowing

  • Stuffy or runny nose

  •  Loss of sense of smell

  • Headache and muscle aches (that are different or more frequent then your usual)

  • Fatigue

  • Loss of appetite

  • Diarrhea

  • Abdominal Pain

  • Nausea/vomiting

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. The late cancellation fee will be waived if due to illness.

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.

 

The patient will be required to go over and sign the Covid-19 Health Screening Questionnaire and Waiver and the Covid-19 Consent to Treatment Form with the practitioner on the first visit at the center since covid started. On subsequent visits the patient and practitioner will go over the forms again and then the patient can give verbal consent for each treatment after the first visit.

 

As part of the informed consent waiver, patients must commit to understanding that while we have taken all possible measures to minimize the risk of viral transmission, the nature of Massage Therapy, Chiropractic and Naturopathic treatments means that physical distancing is not possible in the treatment room.

Patients with high risk profiles and/or weakened immune systems should consider other alternatives for care and postpone treatment.

__________________________________________________________________

Upon Arrival

Masks must be worn at all times within the clinic space.  The patient is expected to provide their own mask and they must have it on before entering the clinic premises.  If a patient does not show up with a mask, if available, the center may have a onetime use disposable mask upon arrival for purchase of $2.00 and they must put it on immediately. No mask, no treatment.  The patient will keep their mask on the entire time they are in the clinic space. 

Patients are asked to arrive on time and not early or late for appointments.  If you arrive late you will only receive the time remaining in your appointment.

​

The patient will wait in their car and wait until they are called to come into the clinic.  The practitioner will open the door for you to come in. Please go directly to the hand sanitizer and use it prior to following your practitioner to the treatment room.  

Please do not bring children or anyone else with you to your appointment.  This is important as we are working in a small space where social distancing is not possible.  An exception will be made if you require physical assistance from a care giver.  Please let your practitioner know if this is an issue for you so that we can take the appropriate precautions for your caregiver. 

The practitioner 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

The practitioner will lead the patient directly to the hand sanitizer station and use the hand sanitizer before going with the practitioner to the treatment room.  The practitioner will also use hand sanitizer/wash their hands/use gloves prior to treatment.

Within the Treatment Room

  • The patient will be required to go over with the practitioner and sign the Covid-19 Health Screening Questionnaire and Waiver and the Covid-19 Consent to Treatment Form on the first visit. On subsequent visits the patient and practitioner will go over the forms again and then the patient can give verbal consent for each treatment after the first visit.

  • If the patient is unwilling to sign the informed consent waiver the practitioner will not provide the treatment.

  • The treatment will be cancelled immediately if the patient does not do or meet the pre-screening criteria upon physical presentation at the clinic.

  • It is not possible to maintain physical distancing while in the treatment room.

  • Both the patient and practitioner must wear a mask. The practitioner will wear a sanitized face mask for every patient.  The practitioner will wash hands/use hand sanitizer/wear gloves between patients and before and after disinfecting spaces, and before donning PPE like facemasks. Gloves can be worn at the patients request OR at the practitioner’s discretion.

  • Patients will be asked to keep all personal belongings within a plastic tote, which will be sanitized between patients. Patients are encouraged not to touch anything in the room that is not necessary.

  • Kleenex tissues will be provided in case either the practitioner or patient needs to scratch their eyes or nose and must be disposed of immediately in the provided garbage can.

  • If there is a plastic chair in the room it has been placed in the treatment room that is easily cleaned and sanitized.

  • As usual, all linen will be replaced with clean linen between every use, including blankets (if used and available).

  • Each room will have a cleaning procedure that each practitioner will follow before each new patient enters the room.

  • Visibly soiled surfaces will be cleaned followed by use of a hospital grade disinfectant which is Canada Health Approved for use against Covid-19.

  • All furniture, table, face rest, pillows will be disinfected between every use as well as ALL common high touch areas such as door knobs, electronic devices, oil and lotion bottles, tools, the practitioner’s trolley, patient’s clothing bin, shelf unit, lap top etc..

  • Anything that cannot be cleaned and sanitized between appointments has been removed.

For Massage Therapy, Hot/Cold Stones have always had bleach added to the water to disinfect both the stones and the water. We follow the EPA -Environmental Protection Agency’s standards and use the appropriate amount of bleach to kill all bacteria and viruses to the point that the water is safe to drink. We have been in contact with the EPA and the Center for Disease Control and they have assured us our standards are still adequate to kill Covid-19.

__________________________________________________________________

Payment and Receipts

As we are attempting to reduce unnecessary contact and limit the time patients spend in the center, we will ask that you pay with DEBIT(Tap is available) and  eTransfer can be used after the treatment.  We will be emailing all receipts for the present time.       

 

When the Treatment is Over

At the end of a treatment and when the patient is ready to leave the treatment room, open the door. 

When you are directed safely out of the treatment room, please go directly to the hand sanitizer supplied at the front and use this before exciting the center.   The therapist will open the door for you when you are ready to leave.

__________________________________________________________________

Washroom Use

To reduce possible contamination, we ask that all patients use the washroom at their homes before coming to the center.  The washroom will be temporarily closed and used only for emergencies

__________________________________________________________________

Professional Obligations and Risks in Receiving Treatment

In the event that the Practitioner develops COVID-19 symptoms:

  • The practitioner will immediately call public health at 8-1-1 to report and provide any necessary information and request testing.

  • The practitioner will immediately self-isolate.

 

If testing is granted to the practitioner:

  • All appointments will be cancelled, and the practitioner will cease to provide treatment until test results are returned negative.

  • If testing proves positive the practitioner will follow Public Health directives in informing patients that they had treated over the previous 14 days about the potential of transmission.

If testing is not granted to the practitioner:

  • All appointments will be cancelled, and the practitioner will cease to provide treatment for a minimum of 10 days beyond the onset of symptoms, and/or until symptoms cease.

  • The practitioner is following all the health and safety guidelines outlined by the Registered Massage Therapists Association of BC, the College of Massage Therapists of BC, Worksafe BC and the Provincial Health Officer.  The practitioner is taking all reasonable precautions to clean and disinfect everything in the clinic space.

In the event that a Patient tests Positive for Covid-19 and has been to an appointment at the practitioner’s clinic within 14 days prior to diagnosis

The patient will contact the practitioner and inform them of the positive test results and possible transmission of the virus immediately.

__________________________________________________________________

Asymptomatic Spreaders, Other

Important Information and High-Risk Patients

Asymptomatic transmission of Covid-19 is an unavoidable risk of practice until we have acquired herd immunity, until there is an effective treatment, or a vaccine is developed against Covid-19.

We have protocols in place to help mitigate the risks in developing Covid-19 as outlined in this document.

Massage Therapy treatment takes place in an enclosed space where the practitioner and patient are unable to socially distance for times that can range from 30-90 minutes.

No form of hands on treatment is risk free. Even if the patient and practitioner appear well and abide by all the recommended procedures and protocols listed by the CMTBC, British Columbia Provincial Health Officer, BC Centre for Disease Control and RMTBC, Worksafe B.C., there is still a risk of transmission of Covid-19, even though it is a reduced risk.  Masks act as a barrier to help prevent the practitioner and patient from spreading tiny droplets to each other but masks are not 100% reliable in doing so.

Booking and receiving an appointment with the practitioner requires the patient to sign a waiver of consent.  If the patient refuses to sign unfortunately no treatment will be provided. 

Patients We Are Currently Asking Not to Book an Appointment And/Or to Cancel Their Existing Appointment

It is recommended due to the nature of such close contact the following high-risk patients should avoid coming in for treatment at this point in time (the beginning of phase 2):

  • Individuals that live in a care home or long-term facility, those with underlying medical conditions (particularly if not well controlled) such as chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, heart conditions, immunocompromised, severely obese, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, undergoing dialysis and those with liver disease.

  • If you work in a care home, hospital or in direct contact with persons who have or are possibly affected by Covid-19.

If you meet any of the above criteria, please do not book an appointment at this time.   If you would like to be placed on a list to be contacted when we are ready to treat people matching any of the above criteria, please call or email us.  We will place you on the list to be contacted when the risk in our province has diminished. If you feel you are would like to speak to your practitioner about this before cancelling, please give our office a call.

The practitioners at Alderbrook Health & Wellness Center would sincerely like to thank you for taking the time to read this document and for doing your part by cooperating and keeping the center as safe as possible. 

We look forward to seeing you soon!

AHWC Team

__________________________________________________________________

bottom of page