What an intense, emotional couple of weeks we’ve had in Nashville. You doing ok? These are stressful times for everyone. We’re happy to report that our East Nashville clinic is back in action after the tornado on March 3rd left us without power for six days. It’s really lifted our spirits to see many of your smiling faces there.
We are continuing to monitor ongoing news and recommendations regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus and wanted to update you on our latest efforts to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our patients and staff.
The current situation
As of Tuesday 3/17/20, Tennessee has 74 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and the actual number of cases is likely much higher. The CDC is now advising against gatherings of 10 or more people for the next eight weeks. Our clinics will remain open for the time being with heightened precautionary measures in place. Please read on to learn more about our most up-to-date procedures and recommendations.
If you are sick, please stay home
The health and safety of our patients and staff is our highest priority. If you are sick, or if you have had a fever anytime in the last week, please stay home to protect yourself and others. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. If you are on the fence about coming in, or feeling at all uncomfortable about being in public spaces, the best option is to stay home. Acupuncture is a wonderful treatment for many conditions but like any form of medicine, it has its limitations. When in doubt, stay home, rest, and come see us when you’re feeling better.
As a reminder, we never charge a fee if you need to cancel an appointment due to illness. We DO ask that you and let us know if you’re going to miss a scheduled appointment; otherwise we’ll worry about you.
High risk categories
The high risk categories for COVID-19 include people over the age of 60 and people with underlying chronic health conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, cancer or diabetes. If you or someone in your household falls into any of these categories, you should strictly limit your contact with other people and stay home when possible.
If you need to cancel an appointment because you or someone in your household falls into a high risk category, please do so—you will NOT be charged a cancellation fee.
Social distancing
The WHO recommends maintaining a distance of 3 feet between people to reduce the risk of community spread of droplets which may contain the COVID-19 virus. The CDC recommends 6 feet. To meet these recommendations, certain chairs in both clinics have been blocked off with a basket. If you see a basket on a chair, please do not sit in it. We realize this may mean your favorite chair is blocked off. Think of this as a chance to try something new.
BYOB (Bring Your Own Blanket)
To help reduce the risk of disease transmission, we’ve suspended our use fleece blankets in the treatment room. If you like to snuggle up in a blanket while during a treatment, please bring your own blanket. You are also welcome to bring your own sheet or towel. We are washing all sheets multiple times per day and have also suspended the use of eye pillows in the treatment room.
Other precautionary measures
We have stepped up our cleaning and sanitizing efforts in many other facets of clinic operations, including the following steps:
- We are asking staff to monitor their own health and follow all CDC recommendations for social distancing,
- All patients are asked to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands immediately upon entering the clinic,
- We are sanitizing high-touch surfaces multiple times per day,
- We are suspending our use of ceramic tea cups and will be using disposable cups for the time being,
- We are in frequent contact with our vendors to ensure the safety of our clinical supplies and herbs arriving from overseas.
Looking ahead
The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving, and we are closely monitoring the latest news and recommendations from health officials. Our hope is to keep our doors open as long as possible for the people who need us, while still ensuring a safe environment for the larger community. At some point we may choose to reduce our hours or close temporarily. If this is the case, we’ll call you if we need to cancel any of your upcoming appointments. We are always committed to the health and safety of everyone who walks through our doors, and will continue to be so during these extraordinary times.
Here are some more guidelines and links to inform you about how to take care of yourself and recommended practices regarding COVID-19:
FAQ by an Intensive Care and Infectious Disease Physician
American Society of Acupuncturists Covid-19 Fact Sheet
Business and Employer Guidelines
Our mission has always been to treat as many people that need and want acupuncture while keeping costs low. With your participation we can continue to serve the patients who need us and keep our clinics a healthy and safe place for all. Thank you.
