Facebook
Youtube

Covid-19 Safety Plan

The Virus and Massage/Movement Therapy

COVID19 is thought to be spread mainly by aerosol droplets. 

Besides pre-screening for symptoms and patient exposure risks (from travel or contact with a person), our main concern is protection via PPE, and avoiding transfer by not touching our eyes, nose, mouth and masks. 

Frequent hand washing and sanitizing of surfaces that droplets could land on, as well as respiratory etiquette and social-distancing further reduce the spread of COVID19. 

Good air circulation and filtration are also helpful. 

Gloves, however, are not any more useful to prevent the spread of disease than hand washing and can present a false sense of security. Unless there is broken skin, or we are sanitizing the clinic, we will not be using them, nor will we require our clients to do so.

No in-person appointment is risk-free, even if the patient and massage therapist appear well.


A person may be asymptomatic at the time of their appointment and despite everyone's best efforts, we cannot reduce the risk of transmission to zero.

It is therefore imperative that you provide informed consent before receiving therapy during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Those at particularly high risk of complications from C-19 include individuals 

over 65 – with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma – with heart conditions – with immunocompromised condition  – with diabetes – with chronic kidney disease and/or undergoing dialysis – with liver disease – with any underlying medical condition that is not well controlled. 

These populations are encouraged to refrain from massage therapy for the time being, however, it is ultimately up to the patient’s discretion. 

We will be doing our best to mitigate the risk of viral transmission with the following methods.

Screening of the therapist and patients:

  • Our therapists will be completing a daily self screening, including temperature, before beginning work. They will not provide massage therapy/in-person treatments if symptomatic. 
  • Patients are asked to begin monitoring themselves 2 days before their booked appointment. It is helpful to complete the ‘BC Covid-19 Self Assessment Tool’ found online. 
  • Patients will receive and complete a screening survey via email 36 hours before their booked time – this survey is then automatically saved in the patient’s chart. 
  • Patients are required to cancel their appointment if they, or a household member, develops symptoms leading up to their booked time. 
  • Late cancellation fees will be waived in the case of illness.
  • The patient’s temperature will be taken upon arrival to the clinic. 

Distancing and PPE

  • We are fortunate to have a large clinic space in which distancing can be easily practiced for all hands-off parts of the treatment.
  • Social distancing will be maintained for all parts of the treatment time that do not require hands-on work. 
  • Masks are required inside the building by both the therapists and the patients. 
  • Patients are asked to bring their own WELL FITTING, CLEAN & DRY face mask to their appointments. 
  • If a patient does not have a mask, disposable ones are available for purchase at the clinic. 

Massage therapy treatments do not allow for physical Distancing in the treatment rooms.

Cleaning and hygiene

  •  The therapists will be maintaining excellent hand, forearm and elbow washing practices immediately before and after all treatments, as usual. 
  • All treatment surfaces and high touch surfaces will be sanitized between every appointment using a cleaning agent found on the approved list provided by the Canadian Government.
  • The bathroom will be cleaned multiple times a day.
  • Patients must sanitize or wash their hands upon arriving to the clinic and following treatment. 
  • HEPA filters will be running at all times and fans can also be used for good air circulation. 

Consents

  •  We will ask that you complete an intake form, even if you have previously completed one with us, for any updates on your current health and as an opportunity to run you through our key safety protocols at the clinic. 
  • Some consents are included at the end of the intake form – you will have read and signed off on these in the past if you are a returning patient.
  • At the clinic, we will review the consents regarding risks of treatment as well as a renewed treatment plan, taking the risk of viral transmission into consideration.