COVID-19 Protocols for Returning to Clinical Practice

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• Inform patients of new procedures at time of booking
• Use of masks on arrival and in waiting area
• Masks available for purchase if patients do not have one
• Informed consent of risks and benefits of treatment (sign a form)
• Pre-screening for symptoms one day prior (see pre-screening form)
• All staff use BC COVID-19 self-assessment tool daily
• Must stay at home if experiencing symptoms
• Consult BCCDC’s Exposures and return to work for healthcare workers based on healthcare workers who may have been exposed

• All staff trained under new procedures
• Pre-screening for symptoms upon arrival (see pre-screening form)
• Temperature measured with instrument
• Treatment will be canceled if patients do not meet the pre-screening criteria
• Necessary precautions re-evaluated as needed 

        Reception/Entry

• Must maintain 2m/6ft distance in areas other than treatment room, as best as possible within the practice setting
• Staggered appointments: 15mins apart if using different treatment rooms; 40mins between patients using same treatment rooms to allow cleaning
• No extra guests allowed within the clinic unless patients require parent/guardian/assistant
• Minimize the use of shared equipment for staff (separate equipment for each room)
• Encourage patients to use the washroom prior to arrival (individual washroom available as needed)
• One waiting chair in clinic

• Entry door locked; staff to open door for patient upon arrival
• Hand sanitizers for patient use upon arrival and departure 
• Hand washing station available (individual treatment room)
• All staff must wash hands before and after each patient using soap and water (20s minimum)
• Hand hygiene protocols posted visibly by each hand washing stations and by the reception area
• Encourage wireless point of sale system with tap feature 
• Receipts emailed to patients 
• Have staff open doors to treatment rooms to allow patients to enter

• Tissues available for patient use in reception, treatment room, and washroom
• Use hand towel or tissue to avoid face touching
• Must sanitize hands before and after touching masks/face

• Clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces and equipment in between patients and visibly soiled surfaces immediately
• PREempt CS20 Sterilant disinfectant for medical devices: 7% Hydrogen peroxide
• Linens laundered with detergent and bleach after each patient
• All clutters, magazines removed
• Cleaning and Disinfectants for Clinic Settings poster from the BC Centre for Disease Control attached in reception area, washroom for patient use, treatment room

• Use of face shields in common areas for staff

       Patient alleges they caught COVID-19 from RMT:

• The RMT must immediately call public health at 8-1-1 and report the alleged transmission, providing both the RMT’s name and the name and contact information of the patient
• The RMT must not provide any further massage therapy treatment to anyone until public health has investigated and has provided direction
• The RMT must immediately self-isolate until the matter has been investigated and public health direction has been provided
• If the RMT is working in a team setting, it is the RMT’s duty to immediately inform his or her colleagues of transmission risk