People who are recovering from surgery, or that have an injury or ailment, aren’t going to stop needing physical therapy because of COVID. As we are healthcare providers, all staff at Physical Therapy of Los Gatos have received two rounds of vaccinations against the virus. We have a responsibility to stay open, and we take it seriously. We believe that patient care must be maintained at a high level, without interruption, and without undue risk.
Physical Therapy of Los Gatos is a High Quality, Low Volume Clinic
We maintain a high level of patient care, in part, by taking advantage of a particularly low-density environment. The SARS-CoV-2 virus exists and is transmitted where people gather, so we ensure that such gatherings do not occur in the clinic. In our high-quality, low patient volume clinic, Physical Therapists see each patient individually, with undivided attention, for one hour. Compare this with the “turn-and-burn” approach followed by many other clinics in an attempt to maximize insurance revenue. Additionally, we don’t place our patients at risk by traveling to other “catchment-clinic” areas. Our patients come to us.
To make patient-to-patient contact even less likely, we’ve staggered our treatment times. For instance, one Physical Therapist will see a patient from 9:00 to 10:00, and a second Physical Therapist will see a patient from 9:30 to 10:30. This ensures that there is no gathering occurring at the front desk.
Our Location Helps Guard Against Viral Transmission
Our medical office building has increased the air filtration process using a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Volume (MERV) of 13, which is the same as the air filtration in general surgery and hospital inpatient environments, to guard against viral transmission on particles or in aerosols. In addition, our patients can park less than five yards from the entrance and avoid stairwells and the basement. The clinic is immediately on your left as you enter the building, so there’s very minimal opportunity for viral exposure in the hallway.
Additional Steps
Everyone, staff and patients, wears a mask. If you don’t have one, or need a new one, we will provide one at no charge. There’s no “uplift” in our fee for Personal Protective Equipment. Everyone, staff and patients, washes their hands. We have a 20-second timer by the sink to help us with the CDC-recommended duration of hand washing. We have a check-in system for both staff and patients, that includes taking and recording of body temperature — one of the early signs of COVID infection. A pulse oximeter (02-saturation monitor) will be used if we think a patient has become more out-of-breath than is warranted by exercise alone.
We clean surfaces that are touched by staff and patients, including exam tables, door knobs, and light switches, between patients or every two hours. In addition to ambient air filtration, we have air purifiers in our treatment rooms, the staff room, and the bathrooms. These air purifiers use UV light or incinerate particles to render viruses non-infectious, are non-ozone generating, and have been approved for use by the State of California.
You Might Not Need to Come In
In some instances, you may be able to stay home and receive attention from our Physical Therapists on our HIPAA-compliant computer platform. The platform runs off your internet-connected PC or Mac and requires no special software. Low back pain, for instance, responds well to changes in the way you sit at your desk and specific exercises we recommend for you. If we can make you well without a visit, we will. Be advised though, some injuries and conditions require the direct, hands-on attention of our Physical Therapists for evaluation and treatment.
COVID Risks, Managed
Taken together, these COVID risk mitigation strategies mean that going to Physical Therapy of Los Gatos is less of a risk than doing many of the things you normally do, like going to the grocery store, getting take-out food, or taking your car in for service. You can still receive the benefits our clinic provides, including improving athletic performance during lockdown, recovery from surgery, and movement without pain. Physical therapy is an essential service, and we will remain open while taking steps to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones.
Comments on this entry are closed.