The past month has been a trying time in the world. Our company has clinics in California, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire and while physical therapy is considered an essential business and permitted to be open, we chose to close 8 of the 9 clinics due to COVID19 uncertainties. Fortunately we have been able to offer telehealth appointments to our patients and to anyone who is not currently a PHRC patient but who is interested in consulting with one of us.
Over the past few weeks we have been monitoring the situation closely and are following the CDC and state and local guidelines. We are grateful for the strong leadership our governors have shown and their actions have slowed the spread of this disease. We cannot thank the first responders, healthcare workers on the front lines, and the people in our grocery stores and pharmacies for doing all they are doing to keep life moving forward.
We are working hard on our policies and procedures to ensure the safety of our staff, patients, and the community as we prepare to open. We are including these policies in this blog. As of today, our opening plans are as follows:
We are following CDC guidelines upon opening and will be implementing the following to keep everyone safe:
General Information:
- We will have staggered schedules to limit the number of people coming and going from our clinics to allow for enhanced cleaning procedures in between patients.
- PHRC has implemented a Social Distancing Protocol which is posted in each office and has been made available to PHRC staff and patients.
- PHRC staff will wear masks at all times.
- Employees who are experiencing symptoms of a cold and/or flu are mandated to stay home. All employees will have their temperature taken using a noncontact thermometer prior to starting the day.
- If any PHRC employee has been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID19 they are required to report this information to their manager and will be asked to stay home for 14 days.
- We are monitoring the specific recommendations for each geographic area we have an office(s).
- The physical therapy staff will clean door handles with antibacterial wipes before and after each appointment.
- The physical therapy staff will clean the treatment table, lotion bottles, stool, and any other object that was touched with antibacterial wipes after every appointment.
- Linens and table warmers are currently discontinued, we will use disposable paper on the treatment tables until further notice.
- The physical therapy staff will wash hands for 30 seconds after every patient.
- All staff must sneeze and/or cough into a tissue or if unavailable, into their elbow.If there is a bathroom in the office, our administrative staff will clean door handles, toilet flusher, and faucet handles after use.
Patient Care Precautionary Measures
- Patients will undergo the CDC phone screening by PHRC administrative staff the day prior to their appointment to ensure they are not at risk to come in.
- Each patient will have their temperatures taken upon entering the clinic with PHRC’s non contact forehead thermometer.
- Patients who present to the office visibly ill (sneezing, coughing, etc) or those that present with a temperature >/=100.0 F per PHRC’s non contact forehead thermometer will politely be asked to leave and reschedule their appointment.
- Patients will not be charged a no show/late cancelation fee if canceling due to concern over COVID 19.
- Only the person receiving treatment is permitted to come into the office; therefore, visitors will be asked to wait outside.
- Patients are required to wear masks during the entirety of their appointment. If patients do not have access to a mask, PHRC will provide disposable surgical masks to patients as soon as they become available to PHRC.
- If a patient has traveled to one of the countries listed as high risk we will postpone their appointment for 14 days.
- If a patient has been in contact with someone that has been diagnosed with COVID 19, they need to postpone their appointment for 14 days.
We are looking forward to getting back to work and reconnecting with our patients and each other. We will continue to offer telehealth appointments to anyone who cannot come in, whether the person is a current patient or not. Please take care and we hope to see you soon!
FAQ
What are pelvic floor muscles?
The pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that run from the coccyx to the pubic bone. They are part of the core, helping to support our entire body as well as providing support for the bowel, bladder and uterus. These muscles help us maintain bowel and bladder control and are involved in sexual pleasure and orgasm. The technical name of the pelvic floor muscles is the Levator Ani muscle group. The pudendal nerve, the levator ani nerve, and branches from the S2 – S4 nerve roots innervate the pelvic floor muscles. They are under voluntary and autonomic control, which is a unique feature only they possess compared to other muscle groups.
What is pelvic floor physical therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized area of physical therapy. Currently, physical therapists need advanced post-graduate education to be able to help people with pelvic floor dysfunction because pelvic floor disorders are not yet being taught in standard physical therapy curricula. The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center provides extensive training for our staff because we recognize the limitations of physical therapy education in this unique area.
What happens at pelvic floor therapy?
During an evaluation for pelvic floor dysfunction the physical therapist will take a detailed history. Following the history the physical therapist will leave the room to allow the patient to change and drape themselves. The physical therapist will return to the room and using gloved hands will perform an external and internal manual assessment of the pelvic floor and girdle muscles. The physical therapist will once again leave the room and allow the patient to dress. Following the manual examination there may also be an examination of strength, motor control, and overall biomechanics and neuromuscular control. The physical therapist will then communicate the findings to the patient and together with their patient they establish an assessment, short term and long term goals and a treatment plan. Typically people with pelvic floor dysfunction are seen one time per week for one hour for varying amounts of time based on the severity and chronicity of the disease. A home exercise program will be established and the physical therapist will help coordinate other providers on the treatment team. Typically patients are seen for 3 months to a year.
What is pudendal neuralgia and how is it treated?
Pudendal Neuralgia is a clinical diagnosis that means pain in the sensory distribution of the pudendal nerve. The pudendal nerve is a mixed nerve that exits the S2 – S4 sacral nerve roots, we have a right and left pudendal nerve and each side has three main trunks: the dorsal branch, the perineal branch, and the inferior rectal branch. The branches supply sensation to the clitoris/penis, labia/scrotum, perineum, anus, the distal ⅓ of the urethra and rectum, and the vulva and vestibule. The nerve branches also control the pelvic floor muscles. The pudendal nerve follows a tortuous path through the pelvic floor and girdle, leaving it vulnerable to compression and tension injuries at various points along its path.
Pudendal Neuralgia occurs when the nerve is unable to slide, glide and move normally and as a result, people experience pain in some or all of the above-mentioned areas. Pelvic floor physical therapy plays a crucial role in identifying the mechanical impairments that are affecting the nerve. The physical therapy treatment plan is designed to restore normal neural function. Patients with pudendal neuralgia require pelvic floor physical therapy and may also benefit from medical management that includes pharmaceuticals and procedures such as pudendal nerve blocks or botox injections.
What is interstitial cystitis and how is it treated?
Interstitial Cystitis is a clinical diagnosis characterized by irritative bladder symptoms such as urinary urgency, frequency, and hesitancy in the absence of infection. Research has shown the majority of patients who meet the clinical definition have pelvic floor dysfunction and myalgia. Therefore, the American Urologic Association recommends pelvic floor physical therapy as first-line treatment for Interstitial Cystitis. Patients will benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy and may also benefit from pharmacologic management or medical procedures such as bladder instillations.
Who is the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Team?
The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center was founded by Elizabeth Akincilar and Stephanie Prendergast in 2006, they have been treating people with pelvic floor disorders since 2001. They were trained and mentored by a medical doctor and quickly became experts in treating pelvic floor disorders. They began creating courses and sharing their knowledge around the world. They expanded to 11 locations in the United States and developed a residency style training program for their employees with ongoing weekly mentoring. The physical therapists who work at PHRC have undergone more training than the majority of pelvic floor physical therapists and as a result offer efficient and high quality care.
How many years of experience do we have?
Stephanie and Liz have 24 years of experience and help each and every team member become an expert in the field through their training and mentoring program.
Why PHRC versus anyone else?
PHRC is unique because of the specific focus on pelvic floor disorders and the leadership at our company. We are constantly lecturing, teaching, and staying ahead of the curve with our connections to medical experts and emerging experts. As a result, we are able to efficiently and effectively help our patients restore their pelvic health.
Do we treat men for pelvic floor therapy?
The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center is unique in that the Cofounders have always treated people of all genders and therefore have trained the team members and staff the same way. Many pelvic floor physical therapists focus solely on people with vulvas, this is not the case here.
Do I need pelvic floor therapy forever?
The majority of people with pelvic floor dysfunction will undergo pelvic floor physical therapy for a set amount of time based on their goals. Every 6 -8 weeks goals will be re-established based on the physical improvements and remaining physical impairments. Most patients will achieve their goals in 3 – 6 months. If there are complicating medical or untreated comorbidities some patients will be in therapy longer.
Comments
I am not currently a patient but am interested in exploring whether any therapy you offer may be helpful with my long time pelvic pain. I’m 75 and have been in treatment for severe pain for 12 years and have tried everything to get some relief. I’m currently being treated with opioids.
Hi Carol,
If you have chronic pelvic pain, we absolutely recommend you being seen by a pelvic floor physical therapist. Are you currently seeing one? If not, we can get in touch with you and help assist in finding a provider that can help curb your severe pain. You do not need to continue to suffer, we are here to help. Please fill out the form on the following page and or give us a call so we may be of help! https://pelvicpainrehab.com/schedule/