At Release Physical Therapy, there is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our patients and staff during this unprecedented time. The Department of Homeland Security and state governments have deemed physical therapy an essential component of health care during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; therefore, our office will remain open to serve those in need. We are taking extensive preventative measures, guided by the CDC, to protect our patients and employees who enter our clinic.

We hope that by providing this information, you can make an informed decision to continue your plan of care with us during this time. The following protocols are now in place:

• • Patient screening: All patients will be screened upon arrival of their appointment time to make sure they are not exhibiting symptoms. If a patient is presenting with COVID-19 symptoms, they will be advised to return home and contact their physician. All patients will have their temperature taken and are required to wash their hands when entering the building.
  • Staff screening: All employees will be screened for COVID-19 daily. Those presenting any level of symptoms will return home and follow up with their physician before returning to work.
  • Health hygiene protocols: Ongoing reinforcement to all staff regarding hand washing and other preventative measures for equipment and supplies are in place and enforced. We thoroughly sanitize all spaces and each piece of therapy equipment before and after each patient.
  • Physical distancing: We have individual exam rooms for each patient that you will only share with your therapist. We have adjusted our schedules so that appointments are staggered to decrease the number of patients in our clinics at the same time.
  • Visitor policy: In order to avoid crowds in the waiting area, please do not bring visitors. If you need someone to accompany you to your appointment, please have them wait in the car or remain outside of the building while you receive care.
  • Mask requirement: All patients, therapists, and staff members are required to wear a mask. Please bring a mask to your appointment. If you do not have one, we will provide one for you.
  • Pre-visit screening: All patients are screened over the phone to determine if on-site care is safe and appropriate. If not, we will coordinate a video visit for you.

If you do not feel comfortable coming to the office for care during this time, we will gladly reschedule your appointment for a later date. We now offer in-home visits as well as virtual visits where you can easily connect with one of our licensed therapists through HIPAA compliant web-based technology. Please call or email our office to set up and appointment

For patients coming into our office, we ask that you adhere to our mask requirement and visitor policy. If for any reason you are not feeling well, please contact the office and we will be happy to reschedule your appointment. To help prevent the virus:

• • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean/disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.