Dear Clients and Families,
I hope this letter finds you healthy and well. In light of developments with the coronavirus, I felt it was necessary to communicate the policies Therapy Talk will be following for the foreseeable future.
Therapists are providing OT, PT, ST face to face, in daycare, in homes, and in clinic services while following common sense precautions, including:
- Please cancel your appointment if anyone in your family has a temperature of 100.3 or greater, has upper respiratory symptoms consistent with coronavirus presentation (coughing, shortness of breath) or has been exposed to someone with a confirmed or suspected case of coronavirus. Therapists will follow the same precautions.
- Though challenging, we will limit physical contact (handshakes, hugs, high fives, etc) as much as possible.
- Parents of patient engaging in face to face or in clinic therapy will be required to sign the COVID-19 Guidelines Form.
- For home health and daycare visits, therapists will bring minimal toys or no toys. We will be practicing the Early Intervention Coaching model of therapy by limiting the use of our toys during the sessions. We will use toys at your own houses for therapy.
- There is still the option for Teletherapy Visits- please check with your insurance company for the latest coverage benefits and details.
Clinic Precautions:
- Parents will drop off the client at the door of the building to the therapist and then wait in the car during the appointment. Therapists will bring the client out to the car after the session and discuss the visit and carryover activities.
- The client's temperature will be taken by an infrared thermometer before entering the clinic. Sessions will be cancelled if a fever over 99.9 is found.
- Hands will be sanitized upon entering the clinic and before every in home appointment. Washing hands again at the end of the session is also highly recommended.
- Between client appointments, surfaces will be sanitized with disinfecting spray. We will wipe down surfaces in the waiting room and bathroom as frequently as possible during the day. Please be patient if we are running a bit late due to our new precautionary measures.
- No food or drink will be allowed in the clinic or waiting room.
If you or anyone in your household tests positive or has been exposed to Covid-19, we will follow one of the three strategies listed below before resuming services. These recommendations come directly from the CDC.
1. Symptom-based strategy: If you have tested positive and have Covid-19 symptoms, we will hold services for 3 days since recovery. Recovery is defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) AND at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
2. Time-based strategy: If you have tested positive but have no symptoms (asymptomatic), we will hold services for at least 10 days since the first positive Covid-19 test assuming you have not subsequently developed symptoms.
3. Exposed to Covid-19: If you have knowingly been exposed to Covid-19, the CDC recommends 14 days of self-quarantine.
In addition, please acknowledge and confirm your understanding of the following statements:
• Due to the nature of the virus, Therapy Talk and its staff can not completely control the spread of Covid-19 regardless of the safety measures we employ.
• There is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 or other illnesses when receiving occupational, physical, or speech-language therapy treatment.
I am open to a conversation regarding your questions or concerns. Please do not hesitate to reach out directly to me- Office@TherapyTalk.org. Stay healthy!
Best~
Steph M. Fish, MA, CCC-SLP
President
