KristinWisgirda: April 28, 2020, 12:02pm
I can’t help but dream about what it might look like to open the clinic doors again. I want to be ready when my
state gives the ok for “non-essential” business to resume.
I plan on wearing a mask and requiring that my patients wear masks. They can send me tongue pics before they
arrive. Patients will be prescreened for symptoms and fever and treated via video call if they are symptomatic. This
might be tricky given the wide variety of symptoms. The latest addition to the list is “COVID toes” with red/purple
rashes.
Only 1 patient will be seen at a time with 1/2 hour between one patient leaving and the next patient arriving so I
can wipe everything down and air out the rooms. This will also reduce the chance that patients will cross paths in
my office. Payments can be made online rather than in office.
Any other ideas?
ranarand: April 29, 2020, 1:26am
Am I mistaken that acupuncture practices are considered essential? I just got an e-mail from an acupuncturist in CA
whose doors are open with safety precautions like yours in place.
f.nunnariTCM #3April 29, 2020, 7:20am
Our clinic has just reopened after being closed for about 3 or 4 weeks. I am in Australia.
I would say if chiro and physio are considered essential then so is acupuncture. But your association would have
more information on this. We were not enforced to close, but we voluntarily opted to, in a hope to slow the spread
but also reduced access to hand sanitizer/soap, even toilet paper and tissues would eventually prevent us keeping a
safe environment. Now things have calmed down and access to these items have resumed.
I am not wearing a mask, (maybe will reconsider? As I realise I get quite close to do the acupuncture) but patients
are welcome to. We have a hand sanitising station as patients enter the clinic and another in the waiting room, as
well as distancing signs. We no long have our water filter in the waiting room, but I offer and get the water for the
patient myself in a paper cup instead of glass.
The front door is kept open to prevent people touching it.
I have realised that I also need to get in the habit of a few screening questions upon booking people in: such as any
fever, cold/flu symptoms, cough etc.15/01/2024, 16:01Thoughts on Opening the Doors Again – Qiological Community
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KristinWisgirda: April 29, 2020, 11:28am
In Massachusetts, we not considered essential.
I hadn’t really thought through the screening process. The list of possible COVID symptoms is long and diverse. I
now plan to send out an email asking if the patient or anyone in close quarters has symptoms so we can discuss
before they come.
I have decided to wear a mask to address the possibility that I may be an asymptomatic carrier and because I get
quite close to my patients. Also for patient comfort.
Because of the mask shortage, I’ve read that MDs and nurses are reusing masks after they have let them rest for 7
days since they virus is supposed to be no longer viable on inert materials after that time.
amyjenner: April 30, 2020, 12:34am
I am opening here in Maine next week. There are some acupuncturists who did stay open as did the chiros. I just
didn’t make sense to me until the dust settled a bit. I had been considering moving my practice to my home for
some time and this event pushed that up. So, I am currently setting up new space in our home. I plan on doing all
the initial part of the treatment over the phone with them sitting in their car in the driveway. I can get all the info I
need, and a tongue picture before they come in. I will have them remove coat and shoes on our covered porch as
weather allows. We will both wear a mask. I’m not thinking I will use N95 but I am glad to see that you can let
them rest for a week and reuse. I have been sewing fabric ones that I will probably use so I can get a new one for
each patient. We will both wash hands before and after treatment, with lots of hand sanitizer in between for me. I
am going to try and wear gloves if I can. I have tried in the past but turning the needles has been difficult because it
gets rolled up in the glove material so I don’t know if I can master the technique. May depend on the gloves. I tried
to buy an infrared thermometer to take temps as part of the screening but there are none to be had at the moment. I
will leave extra time to wipe down all the surfaces with bleach solution. I have to say, they are safer here at the
office than at the grocery store for sure! One thing I have thought about with all the rage in “curb side” everything,
is curb side acupuncture. If someone didn’t feel comfortable coming into the office, the passenger side of their car
with a reclined seat would work fine especially treating a woman with SAAM. That way, exposure would be really
minimal. I also set up venmo so I can deal with fewer credit cards…
that’s what I’m thinking about. I have a few booked for next week. We will see how it goes.
KristinWisgirda: April 30, 2020, 1:15pm
amyjenner:
they are safer here at the office than at the grocery store for sure!
Agreed. Our SJ excess tendencies will keep us scrupulously sanitary and patients can track every step we take,
whereas who know what is going on in the Dunkin Donuts? Yet there is still a line at the drive-through!
That has made closing down much weirder.
Part of the dynamic will be the anxieties and preferences patients will be bringing to the treatment.15/01/2024, 16:01Thoughts on Opening the Doors Again – Qiological Community
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michaelmax: May 1, 2020, 2:36am
I’m not ready to open my doors. I’m still unsure of what it is we are facing with this virus. My clinic is in my home
and I am not willing to expose my family to the deep uncertainty of this virus.
At the moment looking to rent a space for a few months where I can work outside my home.
And here is the most interesting part for me… I’m enjoying the respite. I love doing this work and in having the
breathing room of the past six weeks I notice the toll it takes on me. Yes… the work does also give much to me.
But there is also a kind of burden that comes from caring for others and for the moment I’m relieved to set that
down for a spell.
So… in time I’ll open. But I suspect I will approach things differently. Something internal is shifting, but I don’t
have words for it yet.
ronhubbs: May 1, 2020, 12:15pm
I opened up on a limited basis two weeks ago. If Home Depot is essential, I am essential. I’m now seeing patients
on Tuesday and Thursday. I either half wear a mask (over just my mouth) or don’t wear a mask when talking with
patients and walking around my clinic. I’ll pull the mask up when I’m close to the patient / needling.
We’ve asked patients not to schedule if they are showing any symptoms or living with anyone who is. As long as
my patients are healthy, I’m not requiring anyone to wear a mask. This is not an airborne disease unless someone is
actively coughing / sneezing. We wipe down surfaces in between patients and I’ve scheduled to where people
aren’t in the waiting area at the same time.
I’m about 98% certain that I had COVID-19 in late February into March as did pretty much my whole office and
my wife’s whole staff (she owns a salon). Some of my patients have tested positive. As is now being proven by the
USC and Stanford studies, the infection rate is 30-55x higher than previously thought, meaning the mortality is far
lower than thought. It’s basically the equivalent of a bad flu / chest cold. (Not to minimize it – this can be deadly
for the elderly and the immune compromised as other similar respiratory issues can be). This pretty much already
hit the West Coast before anyone knew what it was. It’s still circulating as the shutdown has slowed down (but not
stopped) transmission.
I more and more believe Sweden has it right – keep most things open and observe basic distancing and hygiene.
There are also many effective treatment strategies emerging. Dr Heiner Fruehauf and Dr Dietrich Klinghardt
especially and others have shared valuable information that have given me confidence to move forward.
1 Like15/01/2024, 16:01Thoughts on Opening the Doors Again – Qiological Community
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garybob888: May 5, 2020, 1:12pm
Similar when we begin reopening next month. I am adopting an idea I read on some acupuncturist’s Facebook site
which is: Have a bin that can be disinfected into which the patient places all of their personal items on entering the
clinic. This is then carried by the patient into the treatment room. I am using stainless steel restaurant trays for this.
Also, I will wear gloves for the entire time that the patient is in the clinic until cleanup has been done.
f.nunnariTCM: May 7, 2020, 1:10am
I can absolutely relate to this, the break I had from practice, although in the beginning was not my choice, was
exactly what I wanted or needed deep down, less (relentless) demands and more time with the family to ponder and
wander and potter…
KristinWisgirda: May 21, 2020, 2:58pm
Masks are definitely going to change patient observation both before and during treatment. Yes, they bring out
people’s eyes but you won’t have as much skin to evaluate the effects of the treatment once the needles are in. As
well you won’t be able to check symmetry as well and overall complexion beforehand.
Masks, even well fit, make many feel claustrophobic and sob. A little GB excess perhaps?
amyjenner: May 23, 2020, 12:15am
I am also finding it very difficult to watch what is going on with the treatment because the mask covers the whole
face. I’m finding I am having to watch for other clues, like the eyes, breath, muscles letting go etc., pulses…and, I
have just been asking how it feels for them. Most of these are veterans and they know what it should feel like. I’ve
only had 1 new person since the mask wearing began. We picked up take out this evening and the woman was15/01/2024, 16:01Thoughts on Opening the Doors Again – Qiological Community
https://forum.qiological.com/t/thoughts-on-opening-the-doors-again/1001/print5/6
wearing this . I
immediately thought, wow! that would work for treatments. I wonder if I could buy them by the case and have
them to give to people to bring when they come to acupuncture. Course, not sure how it actually functions as far as
PPE goes…
michaelmax: May 25, 2020, 2:09pm
I’ve seen these transparent wearable spitguards used a lot by street vendors in Taiwan. Seems like a good way to
keep droplets from flying around the room. But any virus that is more aerosol is going quickly escape from one of
these.
amyjenner: May 26, 2020, 12:02am
Right, I think that food service was the original intention. I just wonder how they compare to the disposable paper
type ones that people are wearing…hard to know. I’m not convinced any of them are effective if not fitted and
worn properly. I know that the disposable ones hand loose on me, I have to tie a knot in the elastic. Geesh! I don’t
know anymore
Adina_Kletzel: May 26, 2020, 8:29pm
KristinWisgirda:
Masks, even well fit, make many feel claustrophobic and sob. A little GB excess perhaps?
How do you see claustraphobic as GB excess?15/01/2024, 16:01Thoughts on Opening the Doors Again – Qiological Community
https://forum.qiological.com/t/thoughts-on-opening-the-doors-again/1001/print6/6
KristinWisgirda #16May 26, 2020, 9:31pm
GB excess nature of pushing outward is likely not going to like being confined by the restrictions of a mask.