[Sent by email on 6/1/2020 at 5:29pm and also posted on my professional Facebook page, titled “COVID-19 Response Plan”; updated last on 7/1/2020 at 2:48pm]
“I do not need to remind you that this is an uncertain time. I greatly appreciate your patience as I have worked to stay in communication relative to sorting out what are the actions I need to take as a business owner in order to respond best to the current COVID-19 pandemic. After much collaboration and consultation with various agencies, boards, and individuals who can provide guidance on “best practices,” I now have more clarity and a formal “Response Plan” for my business, Inner Peace Counseling, PLC.
Although there was still much in flux, I continued to monitor public-health guidance and client feedback carefully so the office could resume in-person sessions as safely as possible.
Therefore, I am notifying you of the following plan purely in accordance with Governor Whitmer’s Executive order 2020-91 from May 18, 2020, which requires business to have a response plan “readily available to employees, labor unions, and customers, whether via website, internal network, or by hard copy” by June 1, 2020.
My practice will continue to follow best practices to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 on site. Efforts I personally will be taking at Inner Peace Counseling, PLC to reduce transmission include the following:
- Increased distance between chairs in my waiting room.
- Reduced access to the public restroom located in my suite unless access is formally requested at the time of your appointment.
- Wiping down communal surfaces between in-person visits with disinfectant.
- Eliminating access to the communal water cooler in my waiting room.
- Personally wearing a face covering during in-person visits.
- Adjusting the distance of my therapy chair to be 6 feet apart from clients.
- Avoidance of physical contact (e.g. handshaking) when in the office.
- Requiring face coverings to be worn when on site. If someone arrives on site and does not have a face covering, or if someone requests additional protection (e.g. gloves), they will be provided such Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).
- Washing my hands or using hand sanitizer in between visits.
- Opening doors for clients upon their exit in order to minimize the touching of communal space.
- Continuing to have the office professionally cleaned on a regular basis.
- Having all clients sign an Informed Consent of risk before an in-person visit can be completed.
- Requiring that those on site report any symptoms of illness prior to their visit.
- Relaxation of office policies to allow for a waived no show/late cancellation fee if an absence is due to suspected COVID-19 infection.
- Screening all clients prior to in-person visits if they have any symptoms of any illness, have traveled recently, or have come in contact with anyone they know who is at higher risk for COVID-19 infection (e.g. someone else who has traveled recently or has symptoms of COVID-19).
- Compliance of the regulation to notify local health authorities if a client or myself have tested positive for COVID-19; in addition to informing clients if anyone who has been in my office tests positive for the virus. This notification will, however, only include information that is absolutely necessary for medical purposes.
- Posting this Response Plan on my website and office door.
- Updating any policies as needed in order to maintain best practices for prevention.
Related to such a Response Plan, I also ask that, per both the CDC guidelines and my landlord’s requirements, you adhere to the following precautions when in-person services resume in order to help keep everyone safe. If you have any concerns about these precautions, please contact me to discuss them.
- Unless not possible due to a medical condition, wear a face covering while on the premises. If you would like additional protection (e.g. gloves), they will be provided to you.
- Notify me if you are deemed an “essential worker.”
- Avoid touching your face or eyes with your hands.
- Keep a 6 foot distance from others and do not engage in physical contact with others.
- Avoid non-essential contact with communal surfaces/areas (e.g. countertops, books, children’s toys, restroom).
- Immediately upon entering my office, use the alcohol-based hand sanitizer provided to you in the lobby to clean your hands.
- Avoid having any guests accompany you to your appointment unless medically necessary or unless previously planned with Inner Peace Counseling, PLC.
- Arrive as close to your appointment time as possible. If you arrive to your visit and there is another person waiting in the lobby, please return to your vehicle and wait to enter until that person has exited the building. Or, if you feel more comfortable doing so, message me (e.g. email or secure message through your client portal) at the time of your appointment to get confirmation that you are ready to enter.
- Notify me immediately if you are experiencing symptoms of any illness (e.g. fever, cough, difficulty breathing).
- If you are ill, contact the office before your in-person appointment.
Please note that we are all doing our best to stay abreast of changes and requirements as they continue to shift. Therefore, please also note that this formal Response Plan may be updated at any time and that it is your responsibility to check for any updates prior to your visit and to inform me if there are any changes in the status of your health or concerns related to such policies. Please review an adhere to the above policies to promote safety until you are notified that such a Response Plan no longer applies. You can find an updated copy of my practice Response Plan at this location of my website: https://kalamazoo-counseling.com/newsevents-kalamazoo/.
Thank you for your patience with all of this. If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, please let me know. You can contact me at ashley@kalamazoo-counseling.com or at 269-254-1211. I look forward to seeing you in the office again soon!