Hello from all of us at Kootenay Health Centre.
As we settle into COVID normal, our first priority remains keeping you, your families and all of us healthy. Toward this end we will continue to practice under the guidelines set out by the BC Center for Disease Control and WorkSafeBC. As a clinic that offers primary care we continue to require mask wearing in reception and common areas regardless of your vaccination status. Once in the treatment room with your provider the COVID policy will switch to that required by the regulatory college of the provider you are seeing.
We have resumed using our reception area for people seeing all our clinicians so please use the ramp to enter the clinic regardless of who you are scheduled to see.
If you feel sick, have a fever, cough, shortness of breath, have travelled outside Canada in the past 14 days or have been around someone diagnosed with COVID-19 please do not come to the clinic regardless of your vaccination status. You should immediately call Health Link at 811.
Prior to your appointment, even if you feel well, we ask that you self-assess for symptoms of COVID-19 using the BC self-assessment tool found at https://bc.thrive.health which can be used on your computer, tablet or mobile device.
COVID-19 is primarily spread through respiratory droplets and aerosols and to help protect us all we ask that you wear a mask to the clinic and for the duration of your treatment while at the clinic. If you do not have a mask we will provide one for you and direct you to a BC CDC guide on how to safely don and remove the mask. Given that our clinicians will not be able to maintain physical distance while treating you, all clinicians at KHC will wear a mask throughout the day.
To help us manage patient flow we ask that you come to your appointment right on time. On arrival and departure, please clean your hands using the provided hand sanitizer found at each entrance to the clinic.
For supplements please call Treena to place your order and she will make payment and pickup arrangements with you over the phone. For visits with the naturopathic doctor that do not require you to be in the clinic we will suggest using telemedicine.
At the end of your treatment you will be directed to Treena or Leonne for payment using our point of sale machine which allows for Tap for debit and credit card purchases under $100. If you would like to further minimize time in the clinic you can call Treena or Leonne with your credit card number prior to your appointment and they can manually enter the payment. Should you need to touch the point of sale keypad it will be cleaned before and after your use. E-transfer is also an option, please ask for the clinicians’ etransfer details if you would like to use this method of payment. All receipts will be emailed.
Please get into the habit of booking follow-up appointments over the phone or online through your Jane account. If you are already at the front desk paying it is fine to schedule your next visit. However, if you do not need to go to the front desk or would like to schedule multiple appointments we ask that you do so by phone or online.
Thank you for taking the time to read this email and for your patience with us as we navigate COVID-19. Please keep in mind that our clinic practice policies are in place to protect all of us, our most vulnerable and our health care system. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Treena, Leonne, Janice, Brad, Heidi, Christia, Ryan, Troy, Nicki, Amy and Trent.
