Phi

Return to clinical practice plan

This plan was developed with the goal of reducing the risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 for both client and therapist within our clinical setting. Here, we identify the actions that the therapists at Phi Massage & Well-Being Centre commit to, and that all visiting clients must commit to, in order to resume Phi Massage & Well-Being Centre services.

“Coronavirus is transmitted via liquid droplets when a person coughs or sneezes. The virus can enter through these droplets through the eyes, nose or throat if you are in close contact. The virus is not known to be airborne (e.g. transmitted through the particles floating in the air) and it is not something that comes in through the skin. It can be spread by touch if a person has used their hands to cover their mouth or nose when they cough. That’s why we recommend you cough or sneeze into your arm and wash your hands regularly.”
Source: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/how-it-spreads

The overall aim of this plan is to reduce potential coronavirus transmission by:

  • Required ongoing self-assessment for signs of COVID-19 related illness in both the client and the therapist
  • Reducing all physical, non-treatment related interactions amongst all people within the practice environment
  • Hand hygiene requirements
  • Avoiding face touching
  • Enhanced cleaning protocols
  • Appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Meeting professional obligations, particularly related to informed consent and liability insurance

Ongoing self-assessment for signs of COVID-19 related illness in client and therapist

Therapists and clients at Phi will achieve this by using ongoing online and in person COVID-19 Screening protocols. Please go to New Protocols found at phimassage.com for a more in depth description to the steps taken to ensure reduced risk of transmission.

  • Clients will be informed about their responsibilities at the time of booking. A notice will be included in the booking email with a link to the Phi Massage & Well-Being Centre website for access to more information. The online booking software will send them a link to Phi COVID-19 Intake Form that they will be required to sign electronically, prior to arriving to their appointment
  • 24 hours prior to their booked appointment, the client will be required to complete the online COVID-19 Screening Form as prompted by our software system and to stay home if they experience any symptoms of COVID-19.
  • The therapist will use the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool daily and commits to cancelling all appointments if symptoms appear.
  • Symptoms of COVID-19 may range from mild to severe and are similar to respiratory illnesses and seasonal allergies. An appointment must be cancelled immediately if either the client or the therapist presents with even mild symptoms that may be signs of COVID-19 including:
    • Fever
    • Cough
    •  Chills
    • Unusual Headache
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle aches
    • Shortness of breath
    • Sore throat or pain with swallowing
    • Stuffy or runny nose
    • Loss of sense of smell
    • Loss of appetite
  • As a part of their consent form, clients must commit to understanding that while we have taken all possible measures to minimize risk of viral transmission, the nature of on-site therapy means that physical distancing is often not possible in the treatment room.
  • For treatment to commence the therapist and client must agree that the therapeutic benefit of therapy outweighs any potential consequence of treatment, including the possibility of viral transmission.
  • Clients with higher risk profiles and/or weakened immune systems should consider alternatives for care and postpone treatment.
  • Clients who develop even mild illness or symptoms should cancel on-site booked appointments, even without notice and will not be charged a late fee if they cancel due to illness.

Upon Arrival

  • the therapist will advise clients of their current Self-Assessment results.
  • clients will be asked to sign a Screening, Consent and Liability waiver.
  • Masks must be worn at all times at Phi. If the client has a mask, they are asked to bring and wear it when they arrive. If the client does not have a mask, a single-use mask will be provided (for a cost of $2/mask), and they will be asked to wear it upon entering Phi.
  • The treatment will be cancelled immediately if the client does not meet the pre-screening criteria upon physical presentation at the clinic.​

Reducing all physical, non-treatment related interactions amongst all people within the practice environment

  • Only 1 client per therapist is permitted in Phi at any given time.
  • Clients must arrive unaccompanied.
  • The therapist and the client will both maintain a space of 6 feet (2 meters) distance between each other in all common areas outside the treatment room.
  • There will be two reception areas, and two ‘waiting areas’ with one chair in each. We ask that clients only use chairs if needed and do not linger after their appointment.
  • The water/tea/candy dish area is off limits. If clients need water they can ask and will be provided with a sanitized disposable cup.
  • Almost all non-essential items that cannot be disinfected after touch have been removed.
  • Appointment times are staggered to reduce the potential of clients crossing paths, and to allow for time in between appointments for enhanced cleaning.
  • Clients are asked to arrive on time and not early or late for appointments.
  • Clients are required to wait in their vehicles or on the benches outside the clinic, until the therapists come to the clinic door to greet them.
  • The clinic door will be opened for the client by the therapist and will be locked behind them to prevent anyone else from entering the space during their treatment. The clinic door will be re-opened by the therapist at the end of the appointment for the patient to leave without touching the door handle.

Within the Treatment Room

  • The therapist and the client will both maintain as much space as possible between each other inside the treatment room prior to client being on the massage table. It is not possible to maintain physical distancing while client is receiving Registered Massage Therapy treatment.
  • Clients will be asked to keep all personal belongings within a plastic bin, which will be sanitized between each use.

Restroom for Client Use

  • The restrooms have been designated as Staff and Client
  • They have been well equipped with soap and paper towel dispensers as well as proper hand washing guidelines. Step garbage bins have been placed close to exit to encourage low touch of handles and surfaces.
  • The restroom door will be left ajar when not in use to allow for the next user to minimize door handle contacts.

Hand Hygiene Requirements

  • Hand washing Protocol is posted clearly in the bathroom.
  • Client must sanitize hands upon entry and exit with either soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds followed by thorough drying OR use the hand sanitizer provided in the entrance followed by a thorough drying.
  • If hands are visibly soiled, client must use soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, and if necessary – use a wipe that is provided in the bathroom or treatment room.
  • Therapist must wash hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds after any potential incident of contamination before touching something else.
  • Clients must sanitize hands post treatment and after any incident of possible contamination.
  • Clients will be asked to use a barrier of a tissue or a provided sanitized hand towel to touch any surfaces including door handles.
  • Payment can be done by e-transfer, or POS system, no cash.
  • Receipts will be emailed
  • All touch points are sanitized between clients.

Avoiding Face Touching

  • Clients are required to wear a face mask that covers the nose and mouth for the duration of their appointment within the clinic space.
  • Tissue will be available throughout the clinic to ensure that clients and the therapist may use tissue to address an itch and/or to touch the face or surfaces for any other reason.
  • Visibly soiled 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-healthproducts/disinfectants/covid-19/list.html
  • Common areas will be cleaned & disinfected at least twice a day, including the restrooms.
  • All high touch surfaces will be cleaned & disinfected between clients, regardless of appearances. High touch surfaces include (but are not limited to): light switches, door handles, POS machine, electronic devices, table surfaces, chairs, stools, faucets, etc.
  • ​Massage table, levers, face cradle, oil bottles etc. will be cleaned after each treatment.
  • All linens, including blankets and pillowcases are single use only and will be laundered.
  • A disinfected single-use plastic bin has been placed in the treatment room. The client will be asked to keep all personal belongings in this bin during treatment. Post treatment, this same bin will be used to carry used linens to the laundry room for washing.
  • Bins will be disinfected between each patient before cycling back into use.

Appropriate Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

  • The therapist will always wear a face mask
  • Clients are required to wear a face mask in the clinic at all times.
  • If clients have their own clean face mask, they are requested to bring it. If they do not have a face mask, a single-use non-medial mask will be provided for a cost of $2.
  • There will be extra PPE and sanitized positioning/comfort materials available upon request (ie. safety glasses, gloves, face masks, blankets, heating pads).

Professional Obligations

Liability Insurance

  • The therapist carries professional liability insurance through Preventative Health Services.
  • The therapist is following all the health and safety guidelines outlined by the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia, as well as the Provincial Health Officer of BC and they are taking all reasonable precautions to clean and disinfect the clinic including all surfaces within the treatment rooms.
  • 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 the Therapist Tests Positive for COVID-19 or Displays Symptoms of COVID-19

  • The therapist will self-isolate.
  • The therapist will call public health at 8-1-1 to report the symptoms and request access to COVID-19 testing.

If testing is granted:

  • All massage therapy appointments will be cancelled and the therapist will cease to provide services until test results are returned negative.
  • If testing proves positive the therapist will follow Public Health directives in informing patients treated over the previous 14 days about potential transmission. All massage therapy appointments will be cancelled and the therapist will cease to provide services for a minimum of 10-days beyond the onset of symptoms, and/or until symptoms cease.

If testing is not granted:

  • All massage therapy appointments will be cancelled and the Therapist will cease to provide services for a minimum of 10-days beyond the onset of symptoms, and/or until symptoms cease.

In the Event That a Client Tests Positive for COVID-19 Having Been to a Massage Therapy Appointment within the 14- days Prior to Onset of Symptoms or Alleges they Caught COVID-19 from the Therapist

  • The client will immediately contact the therapist and inform of positive test results and possible transmission of the virus
  • The therapist will immediately call public health at 8-1-1 to report the alleged or possible transmission, providing both the name of the RMT and the name and contact details of the client.
  • The client must agree to the release of this information under these circumstances in order to receive treatment.
  • The therapist will immediately self-isolate, will cancel all appointments and cease to provide services 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, or there is an effective treatment or vaccine against COVID-19.
  • We have put into place protocols to help mitigate that risk as outlined in the preceding documentation.
  • No guarantees have been made by the therapist, that the client may not come in contact with COVID-19 at or during an appointment.

Informed Consent

  • In the current environment of COVID-19 risk, informed consent requires that the client be informed and understands that:
  • Any massage therapy treatment 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;
  • The client consents to the treatment despite some risk;
  • And the RMT will document the client’s consent in advance and at every treatment

Please Note: This is a living document subject to change.

Approximate Clinical Hours:

Monday-Friday
8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Walk-Ins Welcome!

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9752 Third St

Sidney, BC

V8L 3A4