Movement From Within COVID-19 Health and Safety Measures

Updated: 3/14/2022

To the clients of Movement From Within Therapy.

Please understand that even though WA state/King County and Seattle’s indoor mask policy has ended as of 3/11/22, masks will still be required during sessions at Movement From Within Therapy. There are many people at varying levels of vulnerability that are seen by Movement From Within and keeping universal mask requirements in place this allows everyone to remain protected. Thank you for your cooperation

The history: On March 23, 2020, Governor Inslee issued a proclamation directing all residents immediately to heed current State public health directives to Stay Home, Stay Healthy, except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of essential critical infrastructure sectors and additional sectors as the State Public Health Officer may designate as critical to protect health and well-being of all Washingtonians.  This proclamation was extended to May 31, 2020 and then a phased in reopening of each county began at that time.

On Nov 15, 2020 Governor Inslee issued a clarification of the above restrictions and a roll back of some businesses that were allowed a slow return to minimal capacity this summer and fall. This was due to a surge in cases in Oct and November and concerns about potential holiday travel/gatherings.

The Governor’s order was lifted at the end of June 2021 and current guidelines and Details can be found on the Governor’s page.

GOVERNOR INSLEE SIGNS PROCLAMATION THAT PROVIDES PAYMENT PARITY FOR TELEHEALTH/TELETHERAPY

To maintain the health and safety of everyone, we now have alternatives to the locations in the delivery of care.  Movement From Within Therapy now offers TELEHEALTH.  Governor Inslee’s proclamation provides payment parity between health care services provided in-person and those provided through telemedicine/teletherapy.  Please contact our office to learn more about this option to receive high quality care in the comfort of your home.  In addition, we continue to offer In- person visits as well as Outdoor appointments.  Carrie Lafferty, PT will help you determine the best location for delivery of care based upon a risk/benefit analysis with your health and safety as our #1 priority.  We believe that continuing to participate in your physical therapy sessions will help you stay healthy by keeping your pain levels low, your activity level high, and your body strong and resilient.

Based on Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), we have responded in a flexible way to refine our business response plans to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19.

PREVENT AND SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Know How it Spreads

  • There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
  • The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
  • The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
  • These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
  • Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

Take steps to protect yourself

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT OTHERS

Stay home if you’re sick

  • If you you think you or a family member have been exposed to COVID-19, evaluate your symptoms with this in-home screening tool from the CDC and understand your next steps.
  • Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick.
  • These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure (based on the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses).
    • Fever
    • Dry Cough
    • Shortness of breath

Cover coughs and sneezes

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
  • Throw used tissues in the trash.
  • Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean and Disinfect

  • Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
  • If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

WHAT WE ARE DOING TO KEEP YOU SAFE AND HEALTHY

If the best choice for you is to attend an in-person visit, here is what we are doing to keep you safe and healthy

Screen all patients that enter the clinic

  • We ask all patients if they are experiencing the following symptoms. Please do not come to the office if you are sick in any way or if any family members have been sick.
  • Travel (Movement From Within is following CDC guidelines after both domestic and international travel. See CDC guidelines on their website. Please notify Carrie when traveling and a plan will be made for the timing of your following appointments after your travel.
  • Fever (you may be asked to have your temperature taken with an infrared thermometer)
    • Symptoms of illness including sore throat, muscle aches, coughing or sneezing (though sneezing is not a sign of COVID-19), or difficulty breathing.

We follow strict CDC hand hygiene protocols, disinfecting surfaces, wearing masks, and practice physical distancing measures when feasible

  • Following current CDC guidelines and King County guidelines, we require that patients wear a cloth mask or medical grade mask to their in-person appointment. You must keep your mask on at all times while in our studio and during your session. We practice Universal Precautions and require mask wearing whether you have been vaccinated or not.
  • Your Physical Therapist will wear either a medical grade or cloth mask during your appointment.
  • We ask you to wait in the small waiting area or just outside the entry door on the bench arriving just before your appointment and Carrie will come to get you.
  • We ask each patient to wash their hands before checking in or sitting down and at the end of the session.
  • We ask each patient to follow the 6′ rule of physical distancing when in the reception area.
  • We also ask that you leave your shoes in the waiting area as you enter for your session.
  • Carrie follows strict hand hygiene protocol before, during, and after each session.
  • Surfaces that are touched are disinfected (using approved products) after each session, including phones, laptop keyboards, reception counter, etc.

Movement From Within Therapy will continue to stay OPEN to serve your health care needs per Federal, State, and local Public Health Guidelines.  We will provide you with options of online classes, In-Person visit or Telehealth visits.

We look forward to continuing to provide physical therapy services to keep you and your movement system in optimal health as we navigate this trying time. We assure you that we are remaining updated to the Public Health Guidelines from Seattle and King County and Washington State Department of Health and will keep you abreast of new developments as they are communicated to us.

Everything we’re doing has one goal: ensuring the health and safety of our clients, therapist and shared office members.

Do not hesitate to call if you have any questions about your care at Movement From Within Therapy.

Owner
Carrie Lafferty, PT, GCFP, Master Qi Gong Teacher
206-459-1773