Hello from all of us at Kootenay Health Centre,

We are happy to announce that starting May 19th we will be reopening for regular massage therapy, chiropractic, physiotherapy and naturopathic medicine services.  We are all looking forward to returning to work and seeing your faces again after these past strange 9 weeks.

As we transition to working in a world with COVID-19, our priority is keeping you, your families and all of us healthy.  Toward this end we will be practicing under the guidelines set out by the BC Center for Disease Control and WorkSafeBC.  These guidelines include directives for clinic cleaning, hand-washing, physical distancing, personal protective equipment, efficient patient flow and occupancy.

First and foremost, 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.  You should immediately self-isolate and 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.  Reception and clinical staff will also ask questions that allow us to assess you for COVID-19 symptoms.  If you need to cancel within 24 hours of your appointment time due to fever or any upper respiratory symptom(s) you will not be charged a cancellation fee.

COVID-19 is primarily spread through respiratory droplets 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.  

Please maintain physical distancing so that there is at least 2 meters distance between you and our reception staff and other patients in the clinic.  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.

If you are coming to see Brad, Christia, Ryan or Heidi, please use the normal reception ramp entrance.  If someone else is in the mudroom or on the ramp, please wait near the street to let them pass so as to maintain physical distancing.  

If you are coming to see Troy, Nicki or Trent, please wait in your vehicle or on the sidewalk outside the clinic entrance closest to 13th Avenue (where all our professional signs are) and we will come out to get you when we are ready.  

For those of you seeing Brad after your massage you will be directed to wait in one of Brad’s spare rooms until he is ready to see you.

For naturopathic 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.  

The washrooms are available for emergency use only.  Please try to use your own washroom before and after your appointment.  Should the washroom be needed it will be sanitized after each use.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email and for your patience with us as we navigate these new clinic guidelines.  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 and Trent.