COVID-19 Response and Plan
Update: We follow the regional masking requirements established by the major healthcare facilities such as Virginia Mason, Kaiser, Swedish, etc. At this time we are recommending masks but they are optional for patients.
I, like all others in any healthcare field, have had to rethink how to operate so that everyone who walks through the door neither contracts nor spreads the novel Coronavirus while within the treatment space. It is my goal to never allow the clinic to become a vector for COVID spread.
I encourage everyone who is currently eligible to become vaccinated. The vaccines are safe and effective, and will protect you and everyone around you from serious illness or death due to COVID. If you choose not to get vaccinated, you will still be allowed to utilize services at this clinic, but you should also expect that at some point sooner or later you will contract COVID.
Here is how I plan to operate safely for the foreseeable future:
1. I cannot treat anyone in-person with contagious cold or flu symptoms. It is important to understand that if you are not feeling well you should remain home and call your primary care doctor / get tested for COVID. "Not feeling well" includes feeling a little "off", like you are "coming down with something", sudden unexplained fatigue, fever, chills, body aches, loss of sense of smell and taste, cough, shortness of breath, sudden diarrhea or other flu-like symptoms.
Also important to note is that at least half of all cases are contracted from people without any symptoms. If you have been exposed, or believe you likely have COVID, but test negative, please get a second test a few days after the first to confirm you are negative.
Testing sites can be found here: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/care/testing.aspx
If you have COVID or similar symptoms, I am happy to do an herb consult over the phone or video, and can leave herbs outside for pickup.
2. I will be limiting the numbers of appointments each week in order to allow for proper spacing and disinfecting between appointments. I do my best to avoid patients coming into contact with one another while in the clinic. We are never at more than 25% occupancy.
3. Masks are required while inside the clinic, with no exceptions. Everyone who enters the clinic will have access to sanitized cloth masks to wear during appointments, or you can wear your own. If you bring your own mask, please no neck gaiters, bandanas or masks with vents, as these do not prevent you from spreading liquid droplets while speaking and breathing. More info on testing mask effectiveness can be found HERE
The key to success with face masks is to maintain proper mask protocol - wash your hands then use the strings or elastic to put it on or remove it, wash your hands if you touch the mask or your face, wash your hands again after you take it off.
4. We disinfect the treatment rooms between each appointment, and regularly disinfect the common areas, with a CDC approved peroxide based cleaner.
5. I have HEPA filters in each room as well as the common area that remove particles from the air down to .3 microns, capturing all but the tiniest viral particles. (Viral particles range from .1 to 1 micron) This gives the added benefit of cleaner air inside the clinic.
5. For payment I will be switching primarily to online invoices to reduce touching of common surfaces.
6. I have been fully vaccinated since February 2021, but still get tested after travel to be extra safe.
7. Everyone working at the clinic operates under the same rules. We have not had any exposures, and patients have been excellent at cancelling appointments if they have even a slight concern about their own health or exposures. Should a patient or someone working at the clinic be exposed or test positive, our plan is to cancel all appointments, isolate and deep clean before reopening. Thankfully we have not had to do this yet.
If you have any questions please email or call (206) 650-9404
- David
