Dear Colleagues,
The ACAC recognizes the concern the emerging public health threat COVID-19 is raising among chiropractors, their clinics and their patients. We have provided updated information and other resources on the ACAC website for your clinics to access.
The ACAC recommends all clinics:
- Advise patients not to come into your clinic if:
- the patient has traveled outside Canada in the last 2 weeks (effective February 27, 2020)
- the patient has a fever, cough and/or nausea
- the patient had close contact with a person with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19
- the patient had close contact with a person with acute respiratory illness who was in mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Iran, South Korea, Japan or Italy in the last two weeks (effective February 27, 2020)
- Advise patients who have traveled outside Canada or have any of the above listed symptoms to self-isolate and call Health Link 811.
- Advise patients who are coming into your clinic to wash their hands before and after their appointment.
What can you tell patients?
Health-care providers play a critical role in the response to COVID-19. Chiropractors are advised to refer inquiries and concerns about COVID-19 in a clinical setting to Alberta Health Services (AHS). It is appropriate to discuss general public health guidelines for prevention, as provided by AHS.
Below are two examples of appropriate messaging to promote to patients related to COVID-19. The example on the right encourages good hand washing hygiene, a key activity encouraged to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The example on the left encourages patients to not come into the clinic by removing penalties for late cancellations.