My COVID-19 Safety Measures

I am staying abreast of information provided by esteemed scientific and medical bodies, as well as the most respected voices and educated professionals in my field. ​I have poured over data, reports, news articles, forums, classes, lectures, websites, and more. ​I am contacting authorities to clarify on topics, laws, regulations, and best practices... all in an attempt to provide care in the safest way I possibly can. That said, do I believe it is truly safe? No. I need to honest with you about that... there are risks when you come see me. There are risks when you go to the doctors office, or grocery shopping, or take your kids to school. If it were safe we wouldn't be wearing masks everywhere and this research wouldn't be needed... bottom line. But I am giving it my best to do everything I can to make things as safe as I can, with the current knowledge I have. Staying informed, from respectable sources, is an aspect of this job I take extremely seriously... for you, your loved ones, me, and all of my loved ones. I follow all government guidelines,  professional codes, best practices, and universal precautions, always. Personal, professional and community integrity are each valued with me. I am checking our local infection rates every day just like it’s the weather report. If it looks like rates are on a significant rise, I will postpone sessions. I will be looking at the overall statistics and recording the following rates from these established informational sources, please note that there is a variety of sources from independent non-profit media sources to academic sources. I WILL favor academic resources first and governmental ones last:

• NPR’s UT per 1000K rate from here.
• SL COVID-19 Metrics Rt from here.
• COVIDactnow.org's Daily New Cases and Infection rate from here.

• CDC's UT per 1000K rate from here.
• Johns Hopkins UT New Cases in the Past Day from here.
• globalepidemics.org's UT per 100K rate from here.

These are the changes I am instigating due to that research. I will continue to stay abreast of these things, initiating changes as needed. If you have a concern or question about any of the information below, or the good work we do together, please call me. I am always happy to share my knowledge with you! ​We are all in this together, and the actions of one affects the lives of all. Thank you for trusting yourselves and your loved ones to my care, I don't take that lightly and I consider it an honorable privilege. I look forward to seeing you!

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​​New Cleaning, Sanitization, and PPE Protocols

• Face masks or respirators WITHOUT exhalation valves are REQUIRED to enter the studio! All clients/patients will be required to wear their face mask for the duration of their session, including when prone (face down).​
• I will be following a stringent sanitization protocol, cleaning and using EPA-certified disinfectants and hospital grade sanitizers on all surfaces (including the table, face cradle, stool, bolsters, door knobs, lotion dispensers, side tables, chairs, etc.) between clients/patients. This includes mopping the floors with sanitizer. These will be allowed to sit according to the product manufacturer’s recommendations for contact time.
• By the time you arrive, the room will be fully sanitized, but to put you perfectly at ease, I will have disinfecting wipes readily available in the room, you are more than welcome to wipe down any surfaces again.
• I will be using non-permeable barriers for bolsters, pillows, and the table.
• I will, as always, change all table and face rest linens between each client/patient. 
• ​I will be utilizing PPE, consisting of certified KN95 masks, face shields when doing work that places our faces in close proximity, gloves, hair covers, aprons, shoe covers when needed, and a wardrobe of clothes that will be my new uniform... in order to change/sterilize clothing/gear between appointments.
• I'm installing 4 HEPA air filtration units designed to clean well over the space of the entire studio 5 times an hour, to clean the air in the studio with a turnover rate of 20 times an hour (apx. every 2-3 minutes), if not more.
• I'm obtaining MERV-13 filters for my landlord to put in the HVAC unit that feeds my studio.
• ​I will be opening windows as highly recommended, to ventilate the area with fresh air.
• I'm installing hand sanitization dispensers in common areas, automatic hand soap dispensers at all sinks, foot peddle operated garbage cans, and a UVC light sterilization unit to further assist with sterilization of therapy tools, my glasses, my phone, etc. on TOP of hospital grade sterilizers.
• I'm removing rugs, curtains, books/magazines and vast amounts of décor from the waiting & treatment rooms.​
• Hampers will now be positioned outside the treatment space to minimize the possibility of dispersing any virus in the air.

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Pertinent Client Protocols and Policies

• I will only be working with new clients/patients on a referral basis, and even then I reserve the right to refuse service.
• Because of the increased risk of vascular issues for those who have previously been infected with COVID-19, I will be requiring a note from your doctor advising massage as beneficial for you.
• To protect our more vulnerable populations, I am offering to work with clients who are in an elevated at-risk category (such as those with conditions such as compromised immune systems, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, Parkinson's, and suppressed immune systems, or individuals over the age of 65) ​on Mondays after the studio has had several days with no activity and has been sterilized. For those who are in an elevated at risk category due to a medical condition, I will be requiring a note from your doctor advising massage as beneficial for you.
• Due to the increased risk of blood clotting with pregnancy as well as the increased risk with COVID (even in asymptomatic cases), I will no longer be working with prenatal clients.​​
• ​Please be aware that all clients at each appointment MUST be able to complete and sign both the "Waiver Form" and the "COVID-19 Release & Temperature Log" (See Below).

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IMPORTANT! A new Intake and Waiver Form will need to be completed for each session, this will be emailed to you. Please complete it the DAY BEFORE your session. In addition, upon your arrival we will need to complete a COVID-19 Release and Temperature Log (as required by the Salt Lake County Health Department). If a client/patient's temperature is above 100°F, services cannot be rendered and you will receive a full refund. To view the log, please click below.

Liability Waiver & COVID-19 Release

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Relevant Session Protocols and Policies

• Every patient/client will need to be able to complete the "Waiver Form" and the "COVID-19 Release & Temperature Log for EACH session. (See above)
• All sessions will be prepay only to avoid any unnecessary handling of payments.
• When you arrive for your session with me, please text me when you are in the parking lot and wait for further instruction.
• Please come alone. Exceptions to this are guardians accompanying minors and those to assist with mobility.
• When you enter the studio, please remove your shoes and place them in the boot tray by the door.
• Then proceed to wash your hands for 20 seconds.
• We must remain 6 ft apart other than during the session. 
• I will no longer be offering chocolates in the waiting room.
• Please come dressed in your "assessment clothing" (anything that keeps you covered while allowing me to view and access as much of your structure as possible. Typically I will see swimming suits, exercise gear, or undergarments), which you may then cover up with regular clothing.
• Please DO NOT shake out your clothing as you remove it.
• I will be wiping down the area of your body I am working on with an antibacterial body cleansing cloth before we begin work.
• As this disease is airborne, please limit discussions to that which is relevant to the trouble you're experiencing or your treatment, limiting "table talk". Speaking increases the release of respiratory droplets about 10 fold.
• I will no longer be serving water. PLEASE make sure to bring some!

Other Important Session Changes:

• I'm no longer offering facial sessions, this includes working issues in the sinuses, the muscles around the temporal-mandibular joint, intraoral work, and intranasal work.
• There will be no "in-person" sessions for two weeks after any major holiday where people will be gathering with friends and family, a lot of them unmasked.
• I am adding in telehealth consultation sessions as well as doing all initial consultations via telehealth services. This is an amazing way of helping people without placing their safety at risk utilizing at home therapies, exercises, and home massage techniques to restore alignment. To find out more, select "Telehealth Consultations" under the "About" menu.
• I'm altering my cancellation policy so that there is no reason for people not to cancel if they aren't feeling well (even last minute).
• I'm shifting my schedule. I'm reducing how many sessions I do a day, and how many days a week I'm working (to allow for several days without activity in the studio granting any virus that may be present some "die-off" time), and increasing the time between clients/patients to not only clean the room, sanitize, and change my clothing, but to allow the air to go through filtration units several times. Thus, it is very important that we keep to the scheduled time slot to allow me time to sanitize everything for the next individual.​