COVID-19 safety plan - Acupuncture Works

Date completed: December 7/2020

Measures we’re taking

How we’re ensuring workers know how to keep themselves safe from exposure to COVID-19

We have two types of workers here in our clinic. Registered Health Practitioners and Non Registered workers
For the Regulated health practitioners, each has their own college and guidelines set by the Ministry for Health. The colleges reach out to their members when changes are made to each college’s guidance for additional precautions and infection control measures.
The Regulated practitioners have also participated and passed the relevant infection control modules
For the non registered workers (cleaning staff), they have been trained in infection control by myself, Matthew Colavecchia, so that they know what to do and how to protect themselves and others when here in the clinic. This includes basic handwashing, mask wearing and eye protection when cleaning the clinic.
I will also be checking for guidance from the Ministry, and from my own college, the CTCMPAO for updates and applying those updates to our safety plan and infection control standards here at the clinic.

How we’re screening for COVID-19

Whenever staff or patients arrive, they are expected to fill out a Mandatory Covid-19 screening questionnaire, which is embedded in Jane App, our scheduling, billing and electronic records software. This document is also updated as necessary, according to our own internal policies and additional guidance from the Ministry.
This screening tool includes getting a temperature from our no-touch infrared thermometer as some evidence that fever is not present
Patients are emailed the questionnaire in advance of their treatment to confirm that they do not have symptoms or had issues with visiting a ‘Grey or Red’ zone.
Practitioners do have discretion when screening patients at each visit. Each patient and practitioner must pass the risk assessment performed by each practitioner when filling out the form. For instance, if a practitioner lives in a Red or Grey zone, they travel to and from our office here in Lindsay as a provider of an essential service. If a patient travels to a red or grey zone for medical purposes, then in general, they will pass the risk assessment.
The questionnaire at the door is signed by each practitioner as the receptionist, and the answers are recorded in the patient’s file. This also serves the purpose for contact tracing.
To be clear, the questionnaire is emailed to patients beforehand, which they are expected to fill out, AND they are screened once more at the enclosure.

How we’re controlling the risk of transmission in our workplace

Elimination: Any patient with symptoms of common cold or COVID-19 is refused treatment. We are not equipped to treat such patients, nor do any of our professional colleges authorize us to work on such patients.
The key phrase in the symptom questionnaire is “New or Worsening, without other known cause”. Patients with common allergies, pressure and tension headaches and other such known causes pass the risk assessment.
Alcohol based hand rub stations are throughout the clinic, and kept clean and wiped down with enough product in them to be useful
Mask wearing inside the clinic is mandatory, except as below for practitioners only.
Between workers in the clinic, social distancing is maintained as best we can between workers and patients. A quick pass in the hallway is sometimes needed as we only have a central hallway and are unable to provide a ‘one way’ patient flow.
Engineering solutions include a locked entry inside the front door to control patient and staff flow. Only one patient at a time inside the entryway. When another patient or staff comes in the door, if they are already screened, we can scoot them quickly inside if the patient being screened keeps their distance as best as possible.
Easily cleaned plexiglass countertops have been installed on the front desk
Staff eat their meals inside their treatment rooms.
Masks can only be taken off when practitioners are inside their treatment rooms alone
Our policy is to clean high touch contact surfaces after every patient contact when possible. This includes bathroom use by patients. Should a patient use the washroom, it is the responsibility of that practitioner to clean the surfaces in the bathroom afterwards.
Signage is present around the clinic in the public areas to include instructions on how to safely use hand rub, how to wear a mask, and to practice sneeze and cough etiquette.
Signage also includes reminders on keeping social distancing when possible, and our preferred payment methods to reduce contact as much as possible.
Practitioners are expected to travel in one set of outerwear (pants, top) and change once inside the clinic. We’re borrowing this one from long term care. In case you pick something up at the office, at least you don’t drive in it all day long.
This is not needed for cleaning staff, as they do not touch patients.
Masks worn by practitioners must be minimum of ASTM Level 2
Eye protection is at the discretion of each practitioner, according to the rules and regulations of their individual professional college.
Our chosen cleaning and sanitizing solution is Bioesque, Health-Canada DIN: 02390035 (Thymox EXT), to be used in refillable spray bottles and disposable paper towels.
The MSDS sheets are printed and posted at the front desk by the monitor or available here: https://bioesquesolutions.com/sds/Bioesque_Botanical_Disinfectant_Solution_SDS.pdf
All horizontal surfaces in treatment rooms are cleaned and sanitized between each patient.
The clinic has a ‘deep’ cleaning twice a week to deal with all other contact surfaces

What we will do if there is a potential case, or suspected exposure to, COVID-19 at our workplace

Our local health unit’s website is here: https://www.hkpr.on.ca/ 1-866-888-4577
If there is suspected exposure to Covid-19 by any worker here in our clinic, that person is to immediately cancel the rest of their day and arrange for isolation until the potential exposure is deemed covid negative. If it is a covid positive, we have a duty to report to public health and begin the contact tracing.
If any spouse or member of their immediate family whom they have daily contact with has contact with a suspect or positive case, this policy shall apply until proven negative.
It is HIGHLY recommended that the rest of your household stay home until cleared.
Out of courtesy to any potential exposed patients, the practitioner will check their recent schedule to the last known potential exposure and contact those patients so that they monitor for symptoms. Thankfully, because of our additional precautions here at the clinic, even those contacts should be considered low risk. Once the case has proved negative, call those patients back and let them know your covid status.
Contact Matthew Colavecchia at the clinic or cell 705 341 9684 and describe the situation for further guidance and support.

How we’re managing any new risks caused by the changes made to the way we operate our business

We have daily conversations around the clinic about what our prevention measures are, and if they could be improved in any way.
Should any changes be brought forward by either zone restrictions or other Ministry of Health measures, we will immediately review those requirements and adjust our policies and procedures as necessary
Our numbers as staff change very infrequently. When they do, it is up to Matthew Colavecchia to provide the necessary training and ensure that they are up to speed on infection control procedures we use around the office.

How we’re making sure our plan is working

As above, we have daily conversations on how our measures are holding up. I have an open door policy at my clinic. If anyone has any concerns at any time about any of our procedures or policies, they know to come to me and discuss it so we can find a solution.
We will be reviewing our plan weekly and tuning it as required.