PHRC is Open and Policy Updates

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:

1. 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. 
2. PHRC has implemented a Social Distancing Protocol which is posted in each office and has been made available to PHRC staff and patients. 
3. PHRC staff will wear masks at all times. 
4. 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.
5. 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. 
6. We are monitoring the specific recommendations for each geographic area we have an office(s).
7. The physical therapy staff will clean door handles with antibacterial wipes before and after each appointment.
8. 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. 
9. Linens and table warmers are currently discontinued, we will use disposable paper on the treatment tables until further notice.
10. The physical therapy staff will wash hands for 30 seconds after every patient.
11. 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

1. 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.
2. Each patient will have their temperatures taken upon entering the clinic with PHRC’s non contact forehead thermometer. 
3. 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.
4. Patients will not be charged a no show/late cancelation fee if canceling due to concern over COVID 19.
5. Only the person receiving treatment is permitted to come into the office; therefore, visitors will be asked to wait outside. 
6. 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.
7. If a patient has traveled to one of the countries listed as high risk we will postpone their appointment for 14 days.
8. 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!