Clinic policies and procedures
What is the clinic doing to ensure your safety while in the office?
What is the clinic doing to ensure your safety while in the office?
What is the clinic doing to ensure your safety while in the office?
It is important to note that anytime you enter a clinic or business increases your exposure risk. Patients must weigh that risk against their perceived need for an appointment, along with the above criteria.
Regarding my own clinic procedures the following tasks and procedures have been implemented:
· Follow local updates from both PeaceHealth and the County Health Department to remain aware of a local surge so that I may respond accordingly
· Continually review infection prevention policies and procedures and update, as necessary, to reflect current best practice guidelines for universal precautions
· Update my clinic standards of operation manual to reflect new in-office procedures
· Limit visitors to those essential for the patient’s well-being and care
· Screen patients via an online intake form prior to entering the clinic
· Screen patients upon entering the clinic for fever and blood oxygen saturation (using a finger pulse oximeter)
· Require all patients to wear a mask at all times while in the clinic as part of universal source control
· Require patients to wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer upon entering
· Allow patients into the office only at their appointment time—i.e. there is no longer any waiting in the waiting room unless by advance arrangement.
A copy of our Safe Start plan can be found here.
I have felt ill--when is it safe to come in?
What is the clinic doing to ensure your safety while in the office?
What is the clinic doing to ensure your safety while in the office?
If you have had any symptoms that may be related to COVID-19, the CDC advises: You can be with others after
- 3 days with no fever and
- Symptoms improved and
- 10 days since symptoms first appeared
Depending on your healthcare provider’s advice and availability of testing, you might get tested to see if you still have COVID-19. If you will be tested, you can be around others when you have no fever, symptoms have improved, and you receive two negative test results in a row, at least 24 hours apart.
WHAT CAN I DO DURING this pandemic TO stay HEALTHY?
#1 Get vaccinated when eligible!
There are some things you can do on your own for general immune health: Supplements that may be useful (follow links for more information):
Support your digestive system:
- Proper diet - eat nourishing foods that are easy to digest such as soups, stews, fresh vegetables (at least lightly cooked), and legumes cooked at high heat or under pressure such as in an Instapot
- Avoid foods that may predispose us to illness or compromise our ability to fight it; i.e. limiting sugar, dairy, alcohol, cold and raw foods
Staying warm and listening to our grandmothers about catching cold.In Chinese medicine, we call colds and flus "wind invasions," the ancient theory being that these pathogens come in from the environment. We don't "catch colds" just from being cold, but when we are cold we are more susceptible--this is integral to Chinese medicine and is also supported by mainstream medical thought as well. Here is an article discussing the link between climate and areas hardest hit by the pandemic. Staying active while also avoiding large groups
- We need exercise. We need to sweat. Find an at-home workout routine. Walk your dog in the fresh air (a great way to still see friends while also keeping appropriate distance from each other).
- Do Qi Gong exercises to support your lungs.
This is not an intervention intended to replace mainstream medical care. If you are currently sick please check in with your primary medical provider prior to making an appointment with me. For more information on COVID-10, please visit the Whatcom County Health Department for further guidance.
