Fax 604-459-2229     604-459-2223   info@momentumphysioclinic.com

COVID-19 Safety Plan

Step 1 – Assess Risk in the Workplace

The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads in several ways. It can spread in droplets when in person. It can also spread if you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your face.

The risk of person-to-person transmission increases the closer you are to other people and the more people you come near. The risk of transmission increases when many people contact the same surface and when those contacts happen in a short period of time.

Involve Workers in the workplace

Identify the areas of risks either through close proximity or through contaminated surfaces.

  • We have identified that reception area, gym, treatment rooms and lunch room are greater risk areas.
  • We have identified job tasks where workers are close to each other or members of the public, specifically treating clients, front desk/reception area.
  • We have identified tools/machines that workers share, specifically ultrasound, IFC and EMS machines
  • We have identified surfaces that people touch frequently such as doorknobs, gym equipment, front reception counter and computer keyboards.

Step 2- Implement Protocols to reduce risks

Reduce Risk of person to person transmission

First Level Protection:

Limit # people at workplace and distancing as possible. We have established and made clients aware of occupancy/area at our facility.

Measures in place:

  1. Clients have been notified to remain in vehicle until their appointment time
  2. Clients have been notified no extra people will not be allowed in treatment rooms (those required to assist must also wear mask to attend)
  3. Clients have been notified that they will not stop in waiting area and will be directed to room immediately. We will be adhering to 2 clients in waiting area (2M apart)
  4. We are limiting our gym area to 2 or 3 clients at one time (2M apart). Public Health has developed grocery stores require 5 sq. feet unencumbered floor space/person. Our gym could accommodate these limitations
  5. When possible, clients will be shown and/or perform exercises in the treatment rooms with equipment that is specific to that treatment room, cleaned after each use
  6. We have reduced number of clients/hour and inserted specific cleaning breaks
  7. Physiotherapists and clients have been offered the option to continue telehealth off-site to limit occupancy during clinic hours

Second Level Protection: Barriers and Partitions

Measures in place:

  1. We have installed plexiglass shields to maintain physical distance with clients and front end staff during transactions upon entry and exit
  2. We have included cleaning barrier in our cleaning protocols, using a dry micro fibre cloth after a shift or with soap and water, and anytime there may be visible droplets on exterior of plexiglass

Third Level Protection: Administrative Rules and Guidelines

Measures in place:

  1. Staff required to sanitize hands prior to starting shift
  2. Staff is required to sanitize keyboards, especially when shift change and new front end staff begins with a 70% alcohol spray provided at computer
  3. Lunch breaks are staggered, 2 person maximum in lunch room 2M apart at all times
  4. To protect both administrative staff and cliental, we have clearly communicated they maintain a 2M distance whilst they are directing client to treatment rooms
  5. We have clearly communicated flow of clients as they enter and exit the clinic
  6. Front end staff are aware they must wipe down/disinfect high traffic areas, counters and door handles in front reception zone every 1/2 hour
  7. Washroom faucets/ door handles will be disinfected 1X/hr

Fourth Level Protection: Using masks

Measures in place:

  1. In combination with the above protective measures, we have chosen to protect our staff, and are requiring both therapists (procedure masks) and clients (procedure or homemade) wear mask once in building
  2. Front end staff also has the option to wear masks we have provided if they would like more protection than plexiglass shield
  3. Any physiotherapist wearing a mask, will have reviewed PABC video on how to correctly Don/Doff masks

Reduce Risk surface transmission through cleaning and hygiene

  • We have reviewed information on cleaning and disinfecting:
  • Every client entering the building is required to sanitize their hands prior to entry to treatment room
  • Each therapist is responsible to clean/disinfect their own rooms, beds, equipment and door handles (specific cleaning solution provided for equipment/high traffic areas), after every client treatment session
  • Each therapist is required to clean Ultrasound head and IFC pads/electrodes with soap/water after EVERY use
  • Traction bed and attachment belt will be cleaned by the physiotherapist after each traction session
  • Each therapist is required to wash hands or use hand sanitizer after/before EVERY treatment session, after breaks/lunch or use phone/computer
  • Front end staff is responsible to clean keyboard, front door and counters with approved cleaning solutions
  • We have removed unnecessary books, magazines and toys in the front reception area

Step 3: Workplace policies to manage illness:

Our workplace policies ensure that workers/consultants and any clients showing symptoms of COVID-19 are PROHIBITED from entering the workplace:

  • Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 10 days including: fever, chills, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, headaches
  • Anyone directed by Public Health to self-isolate X 10 days
  • Anyone who has arrived in Canada or who has been in contact with confirmed COVID-19 case must self-isolate for 14 days and monitor symptoms
  • Physiotherapist have the work from home option (Telehealth)

 Our policy addresses staff who start to feel ill at work. It includes:

  • Sick workers/physios are directed to contact Shannon or Norm directly, even with mild symptoms
  • Sick workers or physios who feel ill at work are asked to wash or sanitize their hands, will be provided with a mask and sent straight home (Consult BC COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool) or call 811
  • If worker is severely ill (chest pain, difficulty breathing) call 911
  • If a worker must leave due to illness, we will Clean and disinfect any surface that the ill worker has come into contact with

Step 4 -Develop Communication Plans and Training

  • All front end and physios are aware to inform owner’s and stay home if sick
  • We have posted signage at the work place reviewing handwashing, social distancing, effective hygiene and COVID information posters
  • We have posted signage at the main entrance as to who is restricted from entering the premises including clients or staff with symptoms

Step 5 -Monitor Your Workplace and Update Plan as Needed

  • We have a plan in place to monitor risks. We will make changes to policies and procedures as necessary.
  • Staff have been informed to directly communicate with owners (Shannon Blackburn and Norman Tinkham) if they have any safety concerns.

Step 6 -Address and Access Risks from Resuming Operations

  • We have reviewed new roles and responsibilities for front staff and consultants
  • We have reviewed new hand sanitization and occupancy in front reception and gym area
  • We have reviewed correct PPE use for therapists
  • We have reviewed a safe process and timeframe of cleaning for both front staff and therapists. Specific cleaning solutions have been allocated for various areas/surfaces