COVID-19 Protocols: Changes To Our Visitor Policy
Updated: October 31, 2023
Dear PhysioFit Community,
PhysioFit remains open to seeing new and current patients for physical therapy appointments.
Because physical therapy services are considered an essential healthcare business, we want to help reduce stress to medical teams on the front line that might otherwise increase your need to go to doctor’s appointments, urgent care, or the emergency room. By being proactive to get the help you need now, you'll reduce your exposure to COVID-19.
It has always been our priority to maintain a safe, sanitary, and welcoming environment AND we will be taking additional precautions moving forward, adhering to current guidelines by Governor Newsom and public health orders. Our therapists may alter treatment protocols to keep you at a safe distance from others. To see a detailed outline of our policy, click the dropdown below:
- Effective November 1, 2023, PhysioFit Physical Therapy will require all persons in patient care areas of our facility to wear a Face Mask covering their nose and mouth during the Designated Winter Respiratory Virus Period (11/01/23 through 03/31/23), regardless of vaccination status. This is based on the Health Order issued on March 24, 2023: https://covid19.sccgov.org/health-order-requiring-use-face-masks-patient-care-areas-health-care-delivery-facilities-during
- The above applies to all persons, with the exception of:
- Persons younger than two years old due to, inter alia, the risk of suffocation.
- Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a mask. This includes persons with a medical condition for whom wearing a mask could obstruct breathing or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a mask without assistance.
- Persons who are hearing impaired, or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
- Persons for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.
- The above mask mandate applies to any person present in any area in which healthcare is also being delivered, regardless of what service he/she may be providing or participating in.
- This mask mandate does not apply in staff rooms/breakrooms where no patient care is delivered.
- If someone is showing any of the following symptoms: cough, fever/chills, nausea/vomiting, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, body/headaches, sore throat, runny nose/congestion, or diarrhea, he/she will be asked to test before returning.
- If testing negative, clients can return IF fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms mild and improving. The client is required to wear a mask the entire time he/she is in the clinic 10 days from the start of symptoms or positive test.
- If testing negative but not fever-free, the client should continue to test and can return when fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms mild and improving. Client is required to wear a mask the entire time he/she is in the clinic 10 days from the start of symptoms or positive test.
- Any person testing positive for COVID-19 can return to the clinic no earlier than 5 days from the onset of symptoms or a positive COVID test (the day of onset or test is day 0) and only if NOT running a fever (100 degrees) for at least 24 hours without fever reducing medication and symptoms are mild and improving.
- If returning after 5 days with no fever for more than 24 hours and improved symptoms, clients are required to wear a mask the entire time in the clinic. Masking will be required for a minimum of 10 days after the onset of symptoms/positive test result or after 2 negative tests with at least 1 day between tests.
- Anyone who has COVID-19 and experienced moderate (shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) symptoms should isolate and can return to the clinic only 10 or more days after the onset/positive test result.
- Any person exposed to someone with Covid 19, but not showing symptoms does not have to quarantine but must wear a mask the entire time they are in the clinic, for a minimum of 10 days after exposure, and should test 3-5 days after exposure.
- If showing symptoms after exposure, they are required to test for Covid. If testing negative 3-5 days after exposure and are fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, they can return to the clinic. Still, they must wear a mask for a minimum of 10 days after exposure.
- Masks will be provided for any client or employee needing one
- Face Shields and masks are available for staff
- Use Hand Sanitizer and hand wash, as per protocol, gloves will be provided for staff
How will these COVID-19 guidelines affect you and your experience at PhysioFit?
The Reception Area Is Closed. We are asking that you “check in” for your appointment by remaining in your car and calling the office at (650) 947-8500 once you arrive. We will call back with a list of quick screening questions. You will have your temperature checked at the door and, if there are no signs of fever, we will have you enter and go directly to your treatment room, once ready. This will help us maintain social distancing and further minimize any risk to everyone.
Stay Home. Stay Safe. Especially Now. We ask that anyone that is in a high-risk group or who lives with someone at risk, showing any symptoms of illness, or has been exposed to an infectious disease, please stay safe and stay home. We will still be here when it is safe for you to come in and we can see you now via TeleHealth Video Visit.
Masking Our Feelings. Employees will wear masks and all clients are required to be wearing masks as they walk into the building and for the duration of their time in the clinic. You won't be able to see it, but know that we are smiling and happy to see you!
Missing You. If an employee or client shows any signs of illness, they will be asked to stay home until everyone involved is healthy again, per CDC guidelines.
Extra Breathing Room. Appointments are being booked further apart to support social distancing and extra time to disinfect in between appointments. That means our appointments will be running with strict start and end times. We ask that you be on time in order to get the full service dedicated to you.
Clean and Cozy. As always, the treatment tables and equipment will be wiped down and sanitized before/after every appointment. Extra precautions are being taken to sanitize all equipment and any shared surfaces, like doorknobs, after each use. Hand sanitizer will be at the entrance and we will ask that each patient immediately uses hand sanitizer upon entering the facility.
Officer Safety. All employees will become safety officers, working together to keep everyone healthy. We have appointed Tracy Tomita, Office Manager as the COVID-19 Director, and she will work diligently to ensure compliance with all public health orders as the situation continues to evolve. If you have any questions in regard to health and safety measures in our office, please email them to ttomita@physiofitpt.com.
Can I still make an appointment?
As always, our phones remain open during normal business hours. Call us at (650) 947-8500 to book an appointment. In-person appointments are with limited staff and extra precautions to keep everyone safe, so please be patient.
Thank you for choosing PhysioFit Physical Therapy & Wellness to be your partner in meeting your rehabilitation and wellness needs.
We have missed you and are looking forward to seeing you again - safely!
With gratitude,
P.S. Again, physical therapy appointments are available via TeleHealth Video Visit if you prefer that option.
Fitness appointments, small groups, and classes will remain virtual until the ordinance allows for the return of these services. As many of you have requested, we will be maintaining some of our virtual services after the shelter-in-place is lifted based on your needs and demand.
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What Our Clients Say
H.S.
“I was totally skeptical coming in. Even a little resistant. But I had the best session ever. I keep waiting for “the catch”. Like, how could this have possibly worked within an hour– something that I’ve been carrying around, in and out of therapy, for years? But now, two months later, I still feel free of my burden. Before I left, I took a bunch of Divya’s business cards. I have a few friends who could really use her help!”
Los Altos, CA
D.A.
“I have been seeing Janet Perrino for multifaceted neuro-muscular-skeletal-joint issues combined with fibromyalgia. Janet’s knowledge of anatomy and how it affects the function of body parts is golden and unmatched by any other physical therapist or even doctors. She was able to quickly figure out my problems and find solutions that resulted in, pretty much, instant improvement and pain relief. Incredibly grateful for all the help and treatments.”
Los Altos, CA