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Exton PA, 19341 (map)
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COVID-19 Policy and Procedure Changes

Essential Healthcare Service Statement

As we adapt to these new times with daily changes of COVID-19, the safety of our patients, staff, and doctors is our uppermost priority. We understand the concern of our community and clients, which is why we have created specific policies and upgraded our sanitation requirements per clinic.  

As we circumnavigate this situation, Dr. Zappy and his Chiropractic team is relying on direction from the CDC, FEMA, WHO, and local and national chiropractic organizations. 

Dr. Zappy and his Chiropractic team at the Wellness Center of Chester County will reopen on May 11th, 2020. We know many patients that have needed chiropractic care and we feel responsible to support these patients at this time. We know that many will continue to have healthcare needs that can be helped through chiropractic care, and we feel a responsibility and commitment to help our patients.

We are closely monitoring recommendations and protocols established by the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state and local health departments. As more information develops about COVID-19, we are committed to changing our position if circumstances change. 

Policy

As a precautionary measure, we have created a policy manual to be followed by Dr. Zappy and his Chiropractic team. This Policy creates proper sanitation and social distancing protocols for your safety. 

Resources

Follow the links below to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Follow the links below to the World Health Organization:

What you can expect at your next visit

Supporting our Community

Expectations of Patients

Since the beginning of March, Dr. Zappy and his Chiropractic team at The Wellness Center have taken major precautions and we ask our clients to follow the new protocols to protect everyone. 

We will have you begin with a survey asking these questions, and if any are YES, we kindly ask you to reschedule to properly quarantine yourself: 

  1. Have you in the last 14 days traveled to any current country or region of outbreak or been exposed to anyone at risk or sick with COVID-19 to your knowledge?
  2. Do you have any of the following:  cough, bronchitis, respiratory infection, sore throat, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sever fatigue, shortness of breath?
  3. Have you, or anyone your are in contact with, experienced illness or symptoms of any kind in the last 14 days?

Followed by the survey, we have hand sanitizer, hand washing station, or gloves if you prefer, to make sure you stay well sanitized. Please avoid touching your face, or any other surfaces as we would like to ensure the safest experience possible. 

All of our chairs are within 6-feet and we have significantly limited the number of patients in our office at once. We also ask that all patients avoid bringing any guests or family members in the office and ask they wait in the car. 

If you have a mask, gloves, or any other personal protective equipment available we ask that you please wear them during your visit. 

Expectations from Our Doctors

Dr. Zappy and his Chiropractic team at The Wellness Center are taking supreme measures to ensure the safest experience possible for their clients as well as themselves. Between each patient, doctors are instructed to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds to ensure they have cleaned all parts of their hand and can wear one-time use gloves, if requested by a patient. 

All of our equipment is wiped down before and after each treatment and the face paper is cleaned between each client. If a client requests, they can bring their own towels from home to use during their visit to lie on. 

We understand that chiropractic is mostly hands on, which is why we have worked to adjust the way we work with our clients. We have worked to reduce close face-to-face interactions and reduced the extremely close techniques. 

To ensure every member of our team is aligning with our safety policies, every employee must be trained on, abide by, and sign the following document

COVID Employee Policy and Procedures

THE WELLNESS CENTER OF CHESTER COUNTY

Staff COVID-19 Protocols

Patient Management

Email Newsletter

At The Wellness Center of Chester County, our number one priority has always been the health and safety of our patients. Often in times of uncertainty, there can be a wealth of misinformation spread, especially in today’s digital age. As a recognized healthcare authority in our community, we wanted to reach out to all of our patients regarding the COVID-19 virus, and to let you know the steps we are taking to alleviate any potential concerns.

According to the latest reports from the CDC and other national healthcare providers, the current health risks are minimal for most age groups. We recommend all of our patients to wash their hands frequently, avoid close contact with people who are sick, and stay home if you aren’t feeling well.

At The Wellness Center of Chester County, we follow strict cleaning policies for the protection of both our staff and our patients. Each staff member maintains rigorous personal hygiene standards as well as preparing for every patient interaction. We use hospital-grade disinfectants across the entire office, with extensive room cleaning after each patient to ensure a safe and clean environment. These processes have always been of utmost importance in our office and will continue to the be the standards we uphold for our community.

Please rest assured that we are following local and national updates daily, and will continue to maintain the highest level of safety and patient care that you have come to expect. IF you have any questions regarding your future appointments, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Please advise us if you have traveled internationally in the last 14 days or have been in close contact with another person who has been diagnosed with or under investigation for COVID-19, and whether you have a cough, fever, or shortness of breath.

Text Message – Appointment Confirmation

In addition to appointment confirmation (date/time), we’ll include the following message: Please wait in your car, bring your PPE, and reschedule if feel sick.

Email Message – Appointment Confirmation

In addition to appointment confirmation (date/time), we’ll include the following message: Thank you for your appointment. We look forward to serving you. In the best interest of the health of our staff, patients, and community please arrive to our office and follow the procedures below:

When you arrive, please wait in your car and contact our office to let us know you are here.

A member of our staff will contact you when you are able to come into the office safely.

Please bring and wear all of your Personal Protective Equipment [PPE] that you have available.

Please reschedule your appointment if you have recently been sick [within the past 14 days], or you have been in contact with someone who has been recently sick [past 14 days].

Common symptoms may include cough, fever, and shortness of breath.

Signs Posted at Office Entrances

 

 

Patient Check in Process

The following questions will be asked, answered, and noted in the patient’s file via a questionnaire completed by the patient prior to attending their appointment:

  • Have you in the last 14 days traveled to any current country or region of outbreak or been exposed to anyone at risk or sick with COVID-19 to your knowledge?
  • Do you have any of the following: cough, bronchitis, respiratory infection, sore throat, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sever fatigue, shortness of breath?

o  If the answer to any of these questions is yes, the patient will be asked to leave the office and to self-quarantine for 14 days and/or be tested for COVID-19. After 14 days, or a negative COVID-19 result, they may call again to be screened.

Number of People Allowed in Office at One Time

There will be a maximum of 2 patients allowed at a time in the office; one being treated and one waiting in the reception area. If the office is at capacity, upcoming patients are asked to remain in their cars, call/text the office when they arrive, and will receive a call/text message when they are cleared to enter the office.

Cleaning Procedures

  • All surfaces and pens at check-in will be cleaned with Clorox wipes after each patient check-in. A separate jar for Clean and Dirty pens will be at each check-in point and
  • Adjusting tables will be cleaned per CDC guidelines between each patient seen. Tables must be glistening wet for 4

Staff and Patient Hygiene Procedures

  • Staff must wash hands thoroughly before and after each adjustment for a minimum of 20 seconds.
  • Staff and patients are to cover cough or sneeze with a tissue and immediately dispose of the tissue in a designated
  • Staff and patients are to refrain from touching their face. If they do, they should sanitize their hands
  • Staff and patients are to keep 6 feet of distance from each other as much as possible. This does not include the doctor and patient

Asymptomatic Patient Reports Contact with COVID-19

The Practice will stay in touch with the patient to monitor any development of symptoms over a 5-14- day (minimum) period.

The Practice will monitor the center employees exposed to the asymptomatic patient for any of the following: productive cough, non-productive cough, bronchitis, respiratory infection, sore throat, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe fatigue not associated with travel, myalgia and arthralgia. Each employee will have their temperature monitored twice daily as a precaution. Anything over 100.5F will be important to note.

Return to Work Criteria for The Wellness Center Employees with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19

There are two strategies to determine when an Employee may return to work at the practice summarized below.

  1. Test-Based Strategy. Exclude from work until
    • Resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medication and
    • Improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath), and
    • Negative test results of an FDA Emergency Use Authorized molecular assay for COVID-19 from at least two consecutive nasopharyngeal swab specimens collected 24 hours or more apart (total of two negative specimens).
  1. Non-Test Based Strategy. Exclude from work until
    • At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and
    • o At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared

If an employee was never treated for COVID-19 but had an alternate diagnosis (e.g., tested positive for influenza), criteria for return to work should be based on the diagnosis.

Acknowledgement of COVID-19 Training Protocol

By signing this form, I attest to the fact that I have been trained on the practice COVID-19 Protocol and fully understand the process and expectations set forth herein.

 

__________________________________

Printed Name

______________

Signature/Date

 


NOTE: Prevention

Stop the Spread of Germs

We provide our patients with alcohol-based hand sanitizer in the reception area as well as throughout each clinic. In addition, every member of our team performs hand hygiene protocols before, during, and after all appointments and procedures (e.g., hand washing with antimicrobial soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic hand wash).