COVID-19 INFORMATION

This page is dedicated to communicating the steps that I am taking in my clinic to help reduce the risk of COVID-19.

I want you to feel safe and know what to expect when booking and arriving for a treatment.  I will add to or change information here as I learn of any changes to requirements.

If you have any questions or concerns about any of these new rules or around any of my cleaning protocols, please don't hesitate to send me an e-mail with your question.


COVID-19 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR MASSAGE

All massage therapists must, at a minimum, follow the public health guidelines mandated by the province.  The Natural Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC), has very strongly suggested some additional precautionary measures to avoid jeopardizing liability insurance coverage for any adverse events at this time.

Please be aware that I am unable to make any exceptions to the following rules:

  • Screening is required at the time of appointment booking and at each client visit (yes, I have to keep asking!);
    • I cannot treat anyone who is, or who has been in contact with anyone who is, ill or who has traveled outside of Canada within the past 14 days;

  • Documentation:  I am required to maintain the following documentation:
    • A signed attestation document for each client visit (see 'Screening and Scheduling' below); AND
    • A list of visitors and visit times with current contact information, to be provided to AHS upon request for the purposes of contact tracing;

  • Clients should arrive no more than five minutes before their scheduled appointment time.  

  • I cannot offer (food or) beverages, so you may want to bring your own water bottle for use outside the clinic following your appointment;

  • Clients and therapists must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer when entering and exiting the practice environment;

  • Therapists must follow proper hand hygiene and hand washing moments (see 'Standard Infection and Prevention Control Measures' below for details); 

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): The following PPE is required to be worn by clients and therapists during the massage treatment:
    • Clients must wear a face mask during treatment.  This is because it is not possible to maintain 2 meters of physical distance during a massage treatment. I will have masks available if you do not have one or if you forgot to bring your own;
    • Therapists must wear a medical-grade surgical face mask.
Screening and Scheduling

At each booking and treatment visit, you will be asked about your current COVID-19 symptoms and exposure status and if your job requires you to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and you will be required to sign an attestation.

If you are unable to attest to each of the following items, I cannot treat you.  I am unable to make any exceptions:

  • You, and all members of your household, do not currently, or within the past 14 days, have any symptoms of COVID-19
    (fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose);

  • You, and all members of your household, have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past 14 days;

  • To the best of your knowledge, you have not been in direct contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19;

  • You have not traveled outside of Canada within the past 14 days;

  • If you have traveled outside of Canada in the past month, you isolated within your home for 14 days upon your return;

  • You have not been in direct contact with anyone who has traveled outside of Canada within the past 14 days;

  • You understand that this business and this therapist cannot be held liable should you experience exposure to COVID-19 or any other contagion; AND

  • You understand that, because massage therapy and other natural health practices involve maintaining prolonged and close physical contact, there may be an elevated risk of disease transmission, including COVID-19.
Standard Infection and Prevention Control Measures

Proper hand-washing is the most effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other infections.  Here are the hand-washing moments that I follow:

  • Upon entering and exiting the practice environment
  • Before and after providing direct care
  • After handling dirty laundry
  • Before and after putting on and before and after taking off personal protection equipment (PPE)
  • After cleaning and disinfecting client contact surfaces
  • Upon completion of any touch-based administrative tasks (handling money, writing chart notes)

You will be asked to use hand sanitizer upon entering the clinic and before getting on the table, after removing any clothing.

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection

This is a list of the main cleaning and prevention measures that I have in place.  I am listing these for your peace of mind, but please do let me know if you have any questions or concerns about my cleaning procedures.

  • Changes have been made to reduce touch surfaces and to simplify cleaning and disinfection between clients:
    • All high-touch items that cannot be easily cleaned and most decorative items have been removed;
    • Protective coverings have been added to remove extra horizontal surfaces and to facilitate disinfection;
    • Automatic dispensers have been purchased for foaming hand soap and for hand sanitizers (there will also be some manual-pump hand sanitizers installed outside);
    • A small HEPA filter with UVC has been purchased for use in the clinic room;
    • A privacy drape has been added to the clinic entrance to create a physical barrier between the clinic and my personal living space;
    • UVC lights have been purchased for an extra layer of protection. 

  • Single-use fabric hand towels for client and therapist use will be set out specifically for each client visit. 
    • ALL hand towels set out will be laundered after each client visit, regardless of use;

  • Small, individually wrapped, personal packets of tissues are available on request (unopened and stored in an enclosed space), the use of a communal tissue box has been discontinued.

  • All  linens (sheets, blankets, face cradle covers, towels, hand towels) that are used or set out for a client treatment are laundered on the highest temperature possible for both washing and drying.  All other linens are now kept in a protected, enclosed space. 
  • All frequently touched surfaces and equipment used during treatment will be cleaned and disinfected immediately following each client visit. This includes tables, chairs, counters, pens, shelves, door handles, light switches, door knobs, hand rails, gate handles, all product containers, all treatment tools and equipment, dispensers, and bathroom surfaces (sink, faucet, toilet, counter-top, shelves, dispensers, etc.);

  • Disinfectant: All health service providers are required to disinfect frequently touched surfaces using a hard surface disinfectant that has been issued a Drug Identification Number (DIN) by Health Canada.  I have put a lot of time into researching, sourcing and securing a safe, non-toxic, botanical and essential oil based hospital grade disinfectant that has been approved by Health Canada and EPA registered to kill over 99.99% of bacteria within 30 seconds:
  • Tile and wood floors will be mopped with disinfectant at the end of each day; 
HOW TO STAY SAFE
  • WEAR A MASK
  • WASH your hands with soap and water often
  • AVOID touching your eyes, hands, nose, mouth, and mask
  • DISINFECT frequently touched objects and surfaces
  • DO NOT shake hands.
  • Try to stay at least TWO METRES (6 feet) away from people when in public

 info@hillhursthealingarts.ca                 Calgary, AB | 403-614-4874