Clinic Re-Opening
/Hello, dear humans.
The clinic will officially re-open Tuesday May 26th for in-person acupuncture appointments. Things will necessarily look different for the time being in our best efforts to keep you and our broader community safe.
It goes without saying that this is a trying time, an unprecedented time for most of us in our lives thus far. People seem to land all over the spectrum during this pandemic: from taking necessary precautions very seriously to not heeding any of the precautions at all. I plan to continue to take this public health crisis seriously and to follow the recommendations of scientists and medical experts as things continue to change daily.
The Great Transition.
Life as we once knew it has shifted. Some of the changes have been subtle. Some have felt deep and cathartic. Perhaps some changes have felt like an unexpected relief or a surprise gift.
It's been interesting to experience the speed with which this virus and updates are transmitted alongside the constraint and restriction required to prevent it from devastating more communities than it already has.
Of course there is beauty in the mindfulness required, the care and the consideration given to others. Our interests have shifted to prioritizing the safety and well-being of our parents and our loved ones, our neighbors and co-workers, our community at large.
With any transition, there are elements of grief. Moving towards something new, whether by necessity or freely chosen, we have to let go of something in the process. Sometimes we have to let go of a lot of things. We might be refreshing and evaluating our value systems, our lifestyle and social habits, our priorities, our professions and even aspects of our identities. When something this significant comes along, we cannot help but be shaped by it for years to come.
Self-Care + Healthcare in the COVID Era
The stress is tremendous no matter what your life looked like before March and however it might look right now. I hope you have been able to take some time to care for yourselves or to find new ways to care for yourselves during this time.
I will continue to offer Virtual Visits for those who do indeed feel Safer At Home. I have been really delighted with the positive responses folks have had to the self-administered acupressure and press-tack acupuncture treatments. They are different than the in-person experience, absolutely, but they have been an empowering addition to people's self-care regimens. More on that in a future email!
Updated Policies and Procedures
The nuts and bolts: for your safety, the safety of our community at large and my own safety, in-person appointments will look differently until we are able to resume our usual practices.
Here are the newly implemented practices:
Health intakes will be done online or over the phone. Please email katiefritz@ahimsawellnesscollective.org to schedule your intake appointment. Intakes will be completed the day before your appointment. This will allow us time to discuss your history, your current symptoms, how you're feeling emotionally as well as physically and to assess for any viral symptoms that might warrant canceling or rescheduling your appointment.
Our time in the treatment room together will be limited to 10 minutes maximum. As such, I will not be able to provide adjunctive therapies such as moxabustion, cupping or gua sha at this time.
I am also limiting the amount of time you are in the building total. Your appointment will last about 30-40 minutes.
I have reduced the amount of patient appointments that I typically offer in a day and I have spaced out the time slot for our appointments. As a result, you will not come into contact with other patients in my clinic space.
Please wait in your car until your appointment time. There are a few door handles you will need to touch in order to get into the building. Please feel free to bring a tissue or wear a glove to avoid contacting a surface that others have also touched.
I will be wearing PPE - a surgical mask to reduce your exposure to droplets that occur from normal conversing and gloves prevent from spreading and coming in to contact with germs. If you would feel safer wearing a mask and gloves, please do so! If having a mask on during treatment sounds unappealing or anxiety-provoking, you can always remove it before you get onto the table.
I will be monitoring my temperature regularly and ask you to please do the same!
If you have a fever, cough, shortness of breath or other viral symptoms, please stay home. We can schedule a virtual herb consultation for viral support instead of an in-person appointment. I will deliver herbs to you home.
I have cleared out the waiting room of books and magazines and most other items to reduce the spread of germs and to allow for ease of cleaning.
I will be cleaning rigorously in between patients - door handles, the bathroom sink, front desk, etc. We now have paper towels in the dispenser in the restroom instead of wash cloths.
For all herbal pick-ups there will be contactless pick up available outside the clinic entryway. You will be sent an invoice for your herbal formula to pay via credit, debit, HSA or Flex savings card.
You will not be required to sign after you make your payment for your appointment. Square accepts all major credit cards and you may also use ApplePay to reduce your contact with unnecessary surfaces!
All receipts and notes will be sent via email and will no longer be printed out.
Fee Change
Beginning Tuesday May 26th, the fee for follow-up appointments will be $75, in-person or virtual.
I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who purchased gift certificates during the onset of clinic closure. If you purchased a gift certificate under the previous fee structure, your rate will be honored for however many gift certificates you purchased.
Thank you in advance for valuing your health, your well-being and for valuing the care provided in this clinic!