Infection Prevention and Control Measures (Covid 19)

Our IPAC may vary dependent on type of treatment, client’s overall health condition, location of the patient, health and immunization of people in the practice environment, time of the year, outbreaks of infectious diseases in a particular community and information released by public health officials.

Various clinicians will practice further added protective measures on the recommendations of their colleges and regulatory bodies.

Our IPAC will consist of

• Point of Care Risk Assessment (PCRA)
• Covid 19 Screening
• Hand Hygiene
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Usage
• Physical Distancing
• Clinic procedures

Point of Care Risk Assessment (PCRA)

• All patients will be screened and assessed to allow risk assessment before in person visits.
• Prior to any interactions we will assess infectious risk to clinicians and clients and take necessary precautions. Precautions will vary depending on risk posed e.g. use of face shield, virtual care only etc. Clinicians must assess if a hazard is present in a situation? What is the health status of the patient? What type of task is being completed? Where is the task being completed? What action and precautions need to be taken?

COVID 19 Screening

• Screen all clients for COVID 19 before visits.
• Clinicians will screen themselves before providing in person services to patients on a daily basis.

Self assessment tool from the Ministry of Health can be found here https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/

Personal Protective Equipment

• All clinicians will wear a mask at all times.
• Patients will wear own mask or cloth to cover nose and mouth.
• Gloves when warranted will be worn during patient interactions
• Eye protection or face shield will be worn depending on risk assessment and in situations 2 metres distance cannot be maintained.
• If a client with cognitive or intellectual disability is not able to wear a mask, the clinician should wear a mask and a face shield and perform physical distancing as much as reasonably possible.
• Remove and wash work clothes that are exposed on returning home.

Hand Hygiene

• Clinician will use an alcohol based hand rub and wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after each session.
• Hand hygiene will be practiced after taking off gloves.
• Hand hygiene will be practiced after touching the client, any surface and materials.

Physical Distancing

• Office and administrative tasks will be completed from home when possible e.g. progress notes
• We will not be engaging in physical greetings such as handshakes, high fives etc.
• To ensure minimal physical interaction the therapist will be engaging with the patient only. An adult may be present if the patient is a minor or requests for a family member to be in the room. Social distancing measures will be practised for any other member in the room.
• 2 metres distance will be maintained at all times when possible. In situations where 2 metres cannot be maintained appropriate PPE will be used.

Clinic Procedures

• A redesign of the physical setting to minimize contact between individuals (i.e. remove waiting room chairs)
• Minimize the number of office staff in the clinic at a given time
• Stagger work times and breaks for therapist
• Spread out appointment times to avoid more than one patient waiting in the waiting room. If patients arrive early, they are to safely wait outside the clinic or in their car.
• Ask just the patient to attend the appointment and for others to wait outside the clinic, for example, in the car. If that is not possible, ask for only one other person to accompany the patient
• Ask all staff and patients to remain two metres apart from each other for as much of treatment session as possible
• No walk ins will be allowed, patients must call into the office and will be screened prior to an appointment.
• Cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces with hospital grade disinfectant i.e. Pens, modalities, treatment tables etc.
• Physical distancing posters reminding patients to remain 2m apart will be posted throughout clinic.
• Alcohol based hand sanitizer will be placed throughout the clinic.
• General infection control and clinic procedures will be posted in the clinic and at the front door for patients.
• All and any linens used during treatment will be washed and dried at the “hottest” setting. Bleach may be used when possible.
• Therapist may further document all screening, PPE procedures in patient files.

We have completed our IPAC based on recommendations provided by Ministry of Health. Public health officials are continuing to understand the spread of COVID 19. In spite of our best efforts there is no guarantee we are stopping infection or the spread of COVID 19.