Clinic Closing + Care Options Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Public Health Precautions Amidst COVID-19

I have closed the clinic effective Tuesday March 17th through March 31st in an attempt to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of my patient population and our larger community. Public health and safety is my primary concern. I am personally and professionally employing social distancing at this time. 

Just to review the things we already know in case it is unclear: I, myself, may be asymptomatic and unaffected by COVID-19 but if I am exposed to someone who is (also potentially asymptomatic) there is the opportunity to not only become infected by the virus as an individual but also to transmit the virus to other people. That is a risk I'm not willing to take. 

My primary concern is for the contagious nature of the coronavirus. I treat people over 60 years of age and see many patients with compromised systems and autoimmune conditions. I do not want my clinic to serve as a vector for viral transmission (in any instance, but especially amidst this pandemic). 

Unfortunately, I think re-opening the clinic the week of March 31st is rather optimistic and we are likely on the verge of hunkering down for a span of a few months. If by March 31st the clinic is allowed to be open for operation, I will be adjusting my schedule to see much fewer patients per day, with appointment times an hour and 15 minutes apart so as to allow for social distancing and to maintain rigorous cleaning standards. If you have an appointment made for that week, I will be contacting you shortly to adjust our appointment times. 

Options For Care During This Time of Social Distancing

My primary concern is for our collective wellbeing and safety. Unique in this instance, as we all know, is the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus. 

To maintain the practice of social distancing, I have attempted a bit of creative problem solving in offering care and support to my patients and community during this time. The following options are what I have come up with thus far:

1. Health Intakes via Zoom + Press-Tack Kits for Self-Administered Treatment: This is an option for those who are familiar with and have experience with the procedure of acupuncture. We will schedule an appointment time for an intake and tutorial via email. I will deliver (or you can pick up) an individually packaged press-tack kit containing 60 press-tacks, an individually packaged alcohol swab (unfortunately these are in limited supply so if you have your own alcohol and cotton, that works, too!) and any adjunctive supplies such as a moxa stick. During our 40-minute consult + tutorial via Zoom we will discuss your health history and current presenting symptoms, your treatment goals, etc. I will provide a point prescription and live instructions for proper press-tack placement. A pdf with descriptions of point locations and pictures will be emailed to you, as well. 
***Press-tacks are teeny tiny acupuncture needles that are adhered to surgical tape. They are very short needles but offer stimulation to acupuncture points much like the needles we use during a typical acupuncture treatment. The bonus: you get continual point stimulation throughout the day and you can even sleep with them on for additional relief!
***60 press-tacks will provide 2-3 treatments, depending. Tacks usually remained adhered to acupuncture points for 1-2 days and offer on-going support.

2. Health Intakes via Zoom + Acupressure Guidelines: Not everyone is going to be comfortable with the press-tacks and that makes total sense. Acupressure/self-massage is an equally valuable option for relief. As above, we will schedule a tutorial via email and consult via Zoom. During our 40 minute online visit, I will guide you through self-massage at acupressure points specific to your symptoms, etc. I will email you a pdf of the prescribed acupressure points with descriptions and pictures of their locations. Please email katiefritz@ahimsawellnesscollective.org to schedule a meeting.
 

3. Herbal Consultations via Zoom: Chinese herbal medicine can effectively offer systemic and immune support. I use Chinese herbal formulas to treat both physical symptoms and to support the body and mind in processing emotional distress. If you are a regular patient and need your formula filled, please email katiefritz@ahimsawellnesscollective.org and we will arrange a refill and delivery or a pick-up.
***Some herbal products are in very high demand right now and are difficult to obtain and so some herbal formulas are in limited supply.  
***Herbal formulas should not be used to replace traditional medical care. If you have specific questions, please email me using the address listed above. 

4. Somatic Experiencing (SE) Sessions via Zoom: SE is a body-based therapy aimed at observing, experiencing and regulating the nervous system. Current conditions are even more unstable than usual, changing moment to moment at an intensely rapid pace. Our individual and collective vigilance is extremely high. During an SE session, there is discussion around current life stressors and triggers (COVID-19 of course being a huge source of stress for all of us). We also acknowledge that the current state of events exists in the broader context of your lived experience up until this point.

The focus in an SE session is less on discussion and more on body-sensations. For example, when you begin to talk about the current state of the world, or when you begin to even think about the current state of the world, what do you notice happens in your body? Does your heart rate increase? Do you notice your shoulders tense? Are you aware of mental or physical fatigue or confusion? Perhaps you feel less and less sensation in your body as you think about current events?

Together, we work to observe the trends and tendencies in your nervous system. We carve out an hour to modulate the pace of current events by processing the most bite-sized piece(s) of your physical and emotional experience. We carefully and gently give your nervous system the opportunity to complete some of its activation responses so that you can, slowly and over time, develop a greater capacity for systemic resilience. To learn more or to schedule an online SE session please email katiefritz@ahimsawellnesscollective.org. 

We Need Each Other

Many of you know that I spent the past weekend in St. Paul, MN learning and engaging the principles of Somatic Experiencing. If there is one thing that becomes clearer and clearer, it is that as humans we are hard-wired for social engagement. We are social animals. We need each other. 

It poses a real dilemma, then, to be secluded and separated from one another during a time of such intense emotional distress. When we are in the presence of another kind, caring, supportive and regulated human being, simply put: we heal. 

The challenges we face in light of this pandemic are many. Our basic sense of physical security has been severely compromised and we are being urged and, likely at some point, will be required to seclude ourselves from one another. 

How can we best care for ourselves and care for each other during the coming months? I think the answer will look different for everyone. I will be drafting more emails than I normally do to try and connect you all to various virtual offerings and opportunities to engage with your loved ones and communities, as well as including basic suggestions for self-care that might help nudge us into healthy nervous system regulation. 

One final note...
These are very trying and unique times. As always, it is an incredible honor and an absolute pleasure to be a valued member of your care team. You all mean the world to me - you're such an impressive bunch!? I see so many of you with regularity, it will be difficult to adjust our routine. Please be patient with me as I try to adjust my in-person offerings and learn the ropes on virtual visits. And please be so patient with yourselves during this time. May it be a moment-to-moment personal investigation in kindness, generosity and gentleness. The rapidly changing circumstances are jarring, ungrounding and disorienting to say the least. I look forward to connecting with you all soon - strategically and safely in-person or online. Take good care. Please be safe, healthy and well.

Lots of love,
Katie Fritz