CoViD-19 and Other Epidemics/Pandemics
1. Physical therapists (PT) provide an essential service when they keep patients from unnecessarily accessing health care workers and emergency departments (ER) needed to triage infected persons. They also continue to provide an effective solution amidst the ongoing opioid crisis. Physical therapists are trained and licensed to perform musculoskeletal (MSK) evaluations and make clinical judgments regarding a plan of care (POC) to address pain, dysfunction, and/or impairments of these systems. This will mitigate an unnecessary increased burden on the health care providers and ER departments who are treating patients with CoViD-19 symptoms.
2. Although PT is an essential service, the safety of all patients and of the therapist/s as well as the mitigation of the spread of the infection are primary goals during an outbreak.
3. VTS Physical Therapy, LLC, will provide tele-health sessions (HIPPA compliant, secure video) for those patients who are appropriate and who may benefit from this mode of delivery. Telehealth is a perfect solution for new or returning patients if they:
4. In-person appointments will be provided under the following conditions:
1. Physical therapists (PT) provide an essential service when they keep patients from unnecessarily accessing health care workers and emergency departments (ER) needed to triage infected persons. They also continue to provide an effective solution amidst the ongoing opioid crisis. Physical therapists are trained and licensed to perform musculoskeletal (MSK) evaluations and make clinical judgments regarding a plan of care (POC) to address pain, dysfunction, and/or impairments of these systems. This will mitigate an unnecessary increased burden on the health care providers and ER departments who are treating patients with CoViD-19 symptoms.
2. Although PT is an essential service, the safety of all patients and of the therapist/s as well as the mitigation of the spread of the infection are primary goals during an outbreak.
3. VTS Physical Therapy, LLC, will provide tele-health sessions (HIPPA compliant, secure video) for those patients who are appropriate and who may benefit from this mode of delivery. Telehealth is a perfect solution for new or returning patients if they:
- Have questions about exercises or stretches to make sure they are doing them correctly or want to advance their program
- They are “stuck” on their own and feel it would be helpful to ask questions.
- They are concerned about what they can do at home to manage their pain symptoms and are looking for solid advice and a plan.
- Want to connect about finding resources or how to best coordinate care with other healthcare providers
- Feel that they have increased symptoms and want full and complete guidance on how to improve. There are multiple strategies that can be implemented at home.
4. In-person appointments will be provided under the following conditions:
- The patient cannot manage his/her MSK symptoms at home with self-care techniques taught in previous home programs and/or through tele-health sessions.
- The therapist and patient are symptom-free (no fever and/or cough)
- If the therapist and patient are symptom-free but have been in contact with anyone who displays CoVid-19 like symptoms or who has been diagnosed with the disease or other contagious illness, the therapist and the patient will wear a medical or N95 (KN95) face mask during the entire appointment.
- The waiting area, treatment area/table, and bathroom will be cleaned and disinfected with increased regularity.
- Patient and therapist will wash hands following CDCs guidelines or use hand sanitizer before commencing treatment.
- Respiratory hygiene will be strictly followed (i.e. sneezing/coughing into a tissue that covers mouth and nose; dispose tissue in no-touch receptacle; wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer afterward)
