News
Range Of Motion Exercise and Massage Therapy opened in 2020 and is continuously taking all the current and necessary protocols to have a safe and welcoming environment.
You need to be aware and comply with all current protocols in order for massage therapy treatments to happen. Please read this in full as there are important details you need to know. Online booking is not available yet due to pre screening conversations that need to take place before we can book you in!
What you need to know about the processes for your appointments:
- You will be emailed a Covid-19 questionnaire and consent to treatment that must be filled out before to confirm you are symptom free and have not been exposed to anyone who may or is a confirmed case of Covid-19
- Being honest about your health, it will help protect us all. If any changes occur in your health from the time you complete this questionnaire/consent and your appointment time, we require you to notify our clinic. You will not be charged a late cancellation fee.
- You will be prescreened multiple times before your treatment, this is required to receive treatment and if you present with symptoms your appointment will be cancelled.
- Please wear a mask entering the clinic, and leaving the clinic. Bring your own and wear it to your appointment. CLEAN reusable masks or disposable are fine. During treatment you may be asked to wear it when you are in a face up position. If you forget your mask there will be some available at the clinic.
- Personal protection equipment will be worn and more options for more protection if you would like more to make you feel more comfortable receiving treatment (ex goggles, gloves)
- Please do not show up early to your appointments. Come to the door on time, we will let you in and escort you to our treatment room for treatment.
- Hand washing or sanitizer must be used when entering the clinic. The therapist will be diligently washing their hands and practicing the best hygiene practices for your safety.
- There will be no paper receipts issued at this time. You will be emailed your receipt.
- Please attend treatments alone at this time, no additional people in the clinic space or treatment room. If you are anyone in your household is immune compromised, holding off on treatments at this time is recommended. Although every precaution is being taken to do our due diligence to clean, sanitize and stop the spread of Covid-19, we can not completely guarantee that you will not come in contact with it while receiving treatment. Remember you are entering into a public space.
In the consent to treatment during Covid-19, you agree that you are aware of these risks and consent to receiving treatment despite the risk involved.
This is a lot of new information and it is completely understandable that not everyone will be comfortable with these new measures that need to be taken. We do ask that if you do not plan to comply with our above changes or feel they are not important, that you respect our decision that this is how we plan to operate. This is the course of action based on our requirements of our health authorities right now. These measures will likely be adapting and as they do Range of Motion will adapt with these changes.
You can find the RMT restart plan below.
Thank you for understanding and if you have any questions, comments or concerns they can be addressed to Natalie Delange by email Natalie@ndrmt.com or by phone (250)207-8880
COVID-19 RESTART/STARTUP PLAN
The overall aim of these protocols is to reduce potential coronavirus transmission by:
- Required ongoing self-assessment for signs of Covid-19 related illness in both the patient and the therapist
- Reducing all physical, non-treatment related interactions amongst all people within the practice environment
- Hand hygiene requirements
- Avoiding face touching
- Enhanced cleaning protocols
- Appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Meeting professional obligations, particularly related to informed consent and liability insurance
- Self-Assessment for Symptoms of Covid-19: For Patients & Therapists
- Pre-Screening / Prior to Arrival
- Patients will be informed about their responsibilities at the time of booking. A notice will be placed on the website, and the online booking software will send them a copy of these protocols as part of a Covid-19 specific consent form they will be required to sign electronically, prior to arriving at their appointment.
- One day prior to their booked appointment, the patient will be required to complete the online BC COVID-19 which their therapist will send through Jane. This can be found in our consent section.
Symptom Self-Assessment tool and to stay home if they experience any symptoms of Covid-19.
- The tool can be found here: https://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en
- The therapist will contact the patient prior to their appointment as booked to discuss using the self-assessment tool, and the verify that it has been done.
- The therapist will use the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment tool herself, daily and commits to cancelling all appointments if symptoms appear.
- 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 therapist 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
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Covid-19 Symptoms may range from mild to severe. Patients are required to cancel appointments EVEN 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.
- 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 sign (electronically) a consent and liability waiver with respect to Covid-19 prior to every appointment.
- As a part of the consent form, patients must commit to understanding that while we’ve taken all possible measures to minimize risk of viral transmission, the nature of Massage Therapy means that physical distancing is not possible in the treatment room. We are taking all possible precautions to eliminate the risk but that patient is aware that there is still a chance of transmission.
- Patients with higher risk profiles and/or weakened immune systems should consider alternatives for care and postpone treatment.
- The therapist and patient must agree that the therapeutic benefit of Massage Therapy outweighs any potential consequence of treatment, including the possibility of viral transmission.
- Patients who develop even mild illness or symptoms must cancel booked appointments, even without notice.
- They will not be charged a late cancellation fee if they cancel due to illness.
Scheduling
Online booking will open within a few weeks of the clinic opening when the right measures have been taken to ensure the right protocols and time frames are in place to keep the clinic a safe space.
Upon Arrival
- All patients must wait in their car until the time of their appointment. Please do not come early as we are trying to eliminate the time in the waiting room if any.
- At the start time of your appointment please come to the clinic door and your therapist will greet you and escort you to your treatment room.
- Masks must be worn at all times within the clinic space. If the patient has a mask, they are asked to bring it with them and wear it when they arrive. If the patient does not have a mask, a single-use mask will be provided and they will be asked to wear it upon entering the clinic space. This will protect our team from transmission.
- Please do not bring loved ones with you to you your appointment at this time.
- The therapist will advise the patient of her current results from online BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment tool.
- Patients will be asked to confirm their own current results from online BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment tool.
- Patients must confirm that they have done a pre-screening and have no signs of Covid-19 as outlined here: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/symptoms
- Patient must confirm that they have not travelled outside British Columbia within 14 days prior to their appointment. Appointments will be cancelled immediately if the patient does not meet the pre-screening criteria upon physical presentation at the clinic. This is of the professional discretion of the therapist to act the best interest of our team and the community and decreasing the risk of transmission.
Physical Distancing Reception Area / Entry into Clinic Space
- Only 1 patient/person is permitted in the clinic space at any given time. Patients must arrive unaccompanied.
- The therapist and the patient will both maintain a space of 2 meters (6 feet) distance between each other in all clinic areas that are outside the treatment room.
- All chairs and clinic furniture are hard surfaces that can be easily wiped and disinfected.
- Patients are not permitted to lounge in the clinic reception area before or after the treatment.
- Appointment times are scheduled to reduce the potential of patients crossing paths, and to allow for time in-between sessions for enhanced cleaning.
- Patients are asked to arrive on time and not early or late for appointments.
- Patients are required to wait in their vehicles or outside the clinic door until the time that their therapist is ready for them and will open the door for them to enter.
- The clinic door will be opened for the patient by the therapist and will be locked behind them to prevent anyone else from entering the space during the course of their treatment. The clinic door will be re-opened by the therapist at the end of the appointment for the patient to leave without touching the door knob.
Within the Treatment Room
- It is not possible to maintain physical distancing while in the treatment room.
- Patients will be asked to remove from the clinic everything that they bring with them.
- The therapist will open the door to the treatment room and allow the patient to enter. The therapist will open/close the door before, during and after the treatment as required – reducing the need for the patient to touch the door.
- Patients will be permitted to open the door for themselves after the treatment to let themselves out of the treatment room.
- Tissue is available inside the treatment room that the patient may use as a barrier when opening the door.
- Hand sanitizer is available within the treatment room; patients will be asked to wash or sanitize their hands before the treatment.
- The door and doorknobs will be disinfected between each patient.
Avoid Face Touching
- The therapist will communicate with the patient that coronavirus can be transmitted by touch if droplets are on the hand when it touches the face, as it can transfer those infected droplets to the mouth, nose or eyes.
- Tissue will be available throughout the clinic: in the reception area, treatment room and washroom in order that patients and the therapist may use tissue to address an itch and/or touch the face for any other reason.
- The therapist will wear a mask at all times.
- Patients are required to wear face masks that cover both the nose and mouth at all times within the clinic space.
- Intraoral and external TMJ treatments will not be conducted at this time.
- Musculature of the face will not be palpated or treated at this time.
Payment/ Reception
- After each payment the POS system as well as all counter space will be disinfected.
- We will not be issuing any paper receipts or statements at this time. Your receipt will be emailed with your transaction.
- After your payment is complete and you have booked ahead or have confirmed your appointments and follow up, your therapist will open the door for you to exit.
Restroom for Patient Use
- The restroom has been equipped with paper towels and proper hand washing guidelines.
- Soap and fresh paper towels for drying will be available at all times.
- Please leave the restroom door open after use. It is recommended that patients may use a paper towel to open the door, and then discard of it before re-entering the clinic space.
Hand Hygiene
- Immediately upon entering the clinic space the patient must either:
- Go directly to the hand washing sink without touching anything inside the clinic and wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and then dry thoroughly, or use hand sanitizer
- The therapist will wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds between patients, before and after disinfecting spaces, before donning gloves and after taking gloves off, and before donning or doffing other PPE like face masks or shields.
- Hand washing protocols will be posted visibly in the reception area and at sinks.
- Payment occurs in the reception area. Cash will not be accepted at this time. A wireless Point of Sale system with Tap is available for card use. In the event that this does not work, and invoice may be emailed to the patient in order that they pay it online. The POS machine will be sanitized between each patient.
- Receipts will be emailed, not printed.
Enhanced Cleaning
- Additional time has been scheduled between patients to allow for thorough cleaning of the treatment room. (30 minutes)
- All surfaces will be cleaned/disinfected with a Canada Health Approved for use against Covid- 19 disinfectant as listed here: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-healthproducts/disinfectants/co vid-19/list.html
- Common areas will be cleaned and disinfected including the restroom.
- All high touch surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected between patients, regardless of appearances.
High touch surfaces include (but are not limited to):
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Light switches, door knobs, POS machine, electronic devices, table surfaces, chairs, stools, window coverings, faucets, etc.
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The treatment table, table levers, face cradle, lotion bottles will be disinfected immediately after each treatment.
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No hydrotherapy supplies, thermophores, table warmers or plush table covers will be used.
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All linens, including blankets and pillow cases are single use only and will be laundered using high heat and disinfecting detergent.
Personal Protective Equipment
- The therapist will wear a face mask at all times while working with a patient.
- The therapist’s face mask will be changed in-between appointments.
- The therapist will wear non-latex gloves if/when appropriate.
- Gloves may be appropriate when over-use of cleaning and/or chemicals causes skin irritation, or when the therapist’s hands or skin of the hands are otherwise inured.
- Hands will be washed prior to putting the gloves on and immediately after removing them.
- Gloves are also considered appropriate and will be worn by the therapist at the patient’s request.
- Patients are required to wear a clean face mask that does not have an exhalation valve in the clinic at all times.
- If patients have their own fabric face mask, they are requested clean it prior to use, and to arrive at the clinic wearing it.
- If patients do not have a fabric face mask, a single-use non-medial mask will be provided at the time of their treatment.
Professional Obligations Liability Insurance
- The therapist carries professional liability insurance through Lackner McLennan.
- The therapist is following all the health and safety guidelines outlined by the Registered Massage Therapists Association of BC, the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia and the Provincial Health Officer and that they are taking all reasonable precautions to clean and disinfect the clinic and all the surfaces within the treatment room.
- No guarantees have been made by the therapist, that the patient may not come in contact with COVID-19 at or during an appointment.
In the Event That a Patient Tests Positive for Covid-19 Having Been to a Massage Therapy Appointment within the 14- days Prior to Onset of Symptoms
- The patient will contact the therapist and inform her of positive test results and possible transmission of the virus immediately.
In the Event That a Patient Alleges they Caught COVID-19 from the Therapist
- The therapist will immediately call public health at 8-1-1 to report the alleged transmission, providing both the name of the RMT and the name and contact details of the patient.
- The patient must agree to the release of this information under these circumstances in order to receive treatment.
- All massage therapy appointments will be cancelled and the Therapist will cease to provide services until Public Health has investigated and provided direction.
- The therapist will immediately self-isolate until Public Health has investigated and provided direction.
In the Event That the Therapist Catches COVID-19 or Displays Symptoms of Covid-19
- The therapist will immediately self-isolate.
- The therapist will call public health at 8-1-1 to report the symptoms and request access to Covid-19 testing.
If testing is granted:
- All massage therapy appointments will be cancelled and the Therapist will cease to provide services until test results are returned negative.
- If testing proves positive the therapist will follow Public Health directives in informing patients treated over the previous 14 days about potential transmission.
If testing is not granted:
- All massage therapy appointments will be cancelled and the Therapist will cease to provide services for a minimum of 10-days beyond the onset of symptoms, and/or until symptoms cease.
In the Event That the Therapist Comes into Close Contact with Someone Showing Signs of Illness or Tests Positive for Covid-19
- The therapist will immediately self-isolate.
- All appointments will be cancelled and the therapist will cease to provide services until:
The close contact has been tested for Covid-19 and the results proved negative and the therapist is well,
OR after self-isolating for 14 days and having no symptoms of fever develop.
OR being cleared by a public health official.
Asymptomatic Spreaders
- Asymptomatic transmission of the coronavirus is an unavoidable risk of practice until we’ve acquired herd immunity or there is an effective treatment or vaccine against Covid-19.
- We have put into place protocols to help mitigate that risk as outlined in the preceding documentation.
- No guarantees have been made by the therapist, that the patient may not come in contact with COVID-19 at or during an appointment.
Informed Consent In the current environment of Covid-19 risk, informed consent requires that the patient be informed and understands that:
- Any massage or acupuncture treatment involves some risk of Covid-19 transmission;
- The therapist is following protocol to help reduce or mitigate risk where possible, but that risk cannot be reduced to zero;
- The patient consents to the treatment despite some risk; And the RMT will document the patient’s consent in advance and at every treatment.
These protocols and procedures are in place based on our current research and requirements of our colleges, associations and public health authority. They will change and adapt as more information and restrictions lessen or increase. The guidelines are meant to protect both therapist and patients from the further spread of Covid-19. The safety and health of our community is top priority and we will do our due diligence to protect our clients. If you are not comfortable with the above requirements to receive your treatment than we request that you wait to receive a treatment when these guidelines have changed. By consenting to these guidelines you are also doing your part to keeping your therapist and community safe. Thank you for adapting with us and we look forward to seeing you soon!