COVID-19 Protocols and Procedures for Sooke Goodlife Wellness Centre

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The following will are required by Worksafe BC, BCCDC and the governing bodies for Registered Massage Therapists and Acupuncturists (CMTBC, CTCMA):

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 between people within the practice environment.
• Following proper hand hygiene requirements and avoiding face touching.
• Implementing enhanced cleaning protocols.
• Appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Meeting professional obligations, particularly related to informed consent and liability insurance.

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Informed Consent

In the current environment of Covid-19 risk, informed consent required that the patient be informed and understands that:

• All treatments 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.

• Treatment will only be provided when the patient has signed a consent form.

• The therapist will document the patients consent.

Self-Assessment for Symptoms of Covid-19: For Patients and Therapists
Pre-Screening/Prior to Arrival
• Patients will be informed about their responsibilities at the time of booking regarding the new clinic protocols being implemented. (click here for patient requirements)
• One day prior to their booked appointment, the patient will be required to complete the online BC COVID-19 Symptom Self Assessment tool and stay home if they experience any symptoms of Covid-19. The tool can be found here: http://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en
• The therapist will contact the patient prior to their appointment to discuss using the self-assessment tool and to 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.
• Covid-19 Symptoms may range from mild to severe. Patients are required to cancel
appointments if they experience a change in health with symptoms they may identify as  “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.
• As a part of the consent form, patients must commit to understanding that while we've taken all possible measure to minimize the risk of viral transmission, the nature of massage therapy means that physical distancing is not possible in the treatment rooms.
• 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 appointment, even
without notice. They will not be charged a late cancellation fee if they cancel due to illness.

Physical Distancing
• The therapist and the patient will both maintain a space of 2 meters (6 feet) between each other in all clinic areas outside the treatment room.
• Patients will not be 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 allow for time in-between sessions for enhanced cleaning.
• Patients will be required to wait in their vehicles until their therapist calls, texts, or opens the front door of the clinic to indicate it is time for them to enter for their appointment.
• To prevent the patient from contacting surfaces the therapist will open and close entry and treatment room doors.

Within the Treatment Room
• It is not possible to maintain appropriate physical distancing while in the treatment room
• Patients will be asked to keep all personal belongings within a plastic bin, which can and will be sanitized between patients.
• The therapist alone is responsible for cleaning and sanitation of the room, bathroom (if client
used it) and laundered materials.

Restroom for Patient Use
• The restroom has been equipped with a soap dispenser and paper towels and proper hand washing guidelines.
• All items in the washroom are single use only and must be discarded in waste bin provided.

Hand Hygiene
Reception Area/Entry into Clinic Space
• Immediately upon entering the clinic space the patient must either: 1) 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 or 2) use the touchless hand sanitizer dispenser just inside the entrance door.
• If hands are visibly soiled, the patient must wash hands at hand washing sink
• The therapist will wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds between patients, before and
after disinfecting spaces, and before donning or doffing other PPE such as face masks.
• Hand washing protocols will be posted visibly in reception area and at sinks.

In the Treatment Room
• The therapist will open and close the treatment room door to reduce patient contact with surfaces.
• If necessary 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 sanitize their hands after the treatment
• The door and doorknobs will be disinfected between each patient.
• The therapist will confirm verbally that their hands were washed before and after the treatment.

Avoid Face Touching
• The therapist and patient will do their best to at all times be aware that avoiding touching their face or touching unnecessary surfaces.
• Tissues will be available throughout the clinic: in the reception area, treatment room and
washroom in order that the patients and the therapists may use tissue to address and itch and/or touch the face for any other reason.
• Masks will be required to be worn by therapists and patients.
• Patients will be asked to bring their own, clean masks with them. If they do not have one a mask will be made available.
• Inter-oral and external TMJ treatments will be done with the use of gloves. Gloves must be
properly donned before applying treatment and include hand and forearm sanitation.

Enhanced Cleaning
• Additional time has been scheduled between patients to allow for thorough cleaning of the
treatment room.
• Surfaces will be cleaned followed by disinfection with a Canada Health Approved
for use against Covid-19 disinfectant as listed here: https://www.canada.ca/en.health-
canada/services/drugs-health-products/disinfectants/covid-19/list.html
• Common areas will be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a day, 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): light switches, stool covers,
chairs, door knobs, POS machine, electronic devices, table surfaces, window coverings, faucets,
etc.
• The treatment table, table levers, face cradle, bottles and other treatment equipment will be disinfected immediately after each treatment.
• A “Cleaning and Disinfectant for Clinic Setting” poster will be on display in the reception area.
• All linens, including blankets and pillow cases are single use only and will be laundered using
hot, soapy water.
• A disinfected plastic bin has been placed in the treatment room. The patient will be asked to keep all of their personal belongings in this bin during the treatment. Post treatment, the bins will be disinfected between each patient.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• The therapist will outline requirements of the patient regarding PPE in an email, along with a COVID-19 consent form.
• The therapist will don a clean mask for each patient.
• If patients have their own fabric face mask, they are requested to arrive at the clinic wearing it.
• If the patient does not have their own mask one will be made available by the practitioner.
• Gloves will be worn in the case that the therapist or patient has open injuries or cuts.
• Hands will be washed prior to putting on the gloves and immediately after removing them.
• Appropriate donning and doffing will take place with the use of gloves, masks and clothing.

Professional Obligations
• The therapist has no duty or obligation to return to practice.
• The therapist is bound by their obligation and duty to meet the required Liability standards set
forth from the government of British Columbia, the CMTBC and the CTCMA.
• 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 Visitor to the Clinic contracts COVID-like symptoms
If an individual contracts COVID-like symptoms within 14 days of their clinic visit:

The therapist will immediately contact the CDC and follow the necessary procedures.

• The practitioner will immediately call public health at 8-1-1 to report the alleged transmission,
providing both the name of the practitioner and the name and contact details of the patient as per the agreement made in the signed consent form.
• All treatments at the Sooke Goodlife Wellness Centre will be cancelled immediately and all practitioners will cease to provide services until Public Health has investigated and provided direction.
• The practitioner will immediately self-isolate until Public Health has investigated and provided
direction.

Asymptomatic Spreaders
• Asymptomatic transmission of the coronavirus is an unavoidable risk of practice until we've
acquired herd immunity, there is an effective treatment or vaccine against Covid-19.
• We have put into place protocols to help mitigate the risk as outlined in the preceding
information.
• No guarantees have been make by the therapist that the patient may not come into contact with COVID-19 at or during an appointment.