How We Are Keeping You Safe
An Update on Feldman PT Procedures and New Technology
Hudson Valley Sports Physical Therapy, COVID-19, safety, technology
We have now been back in our offices treating for almost as long as we were away from them and we thought it was time to update you on what actions we are taking to keep you (and ourselves) safe and healthy.
Let’s start with the easy stuff, as always we are only working with one patient at a time. This was, always will be, the foundation of our practice. When I decided to open Feldman PT, one of the reasons was that I was sick and tired of trying to juggle multiple patients in a large open setting. The lack of patient privacy, and the inability for me to give each patient my undivided attention was maddening. It just so happens that in today’s world, that has set us up to be in the best possible position to keep everyone as safe as possible.
We are continuing to wipe down all surfaces and common touchpoints between and during each visit, and it goes without saying that each patient and therapist are wearing masks during their visits. We know that the most up to date evidence suggests airborne transmission is most likely, and so we have followed the recommendations on air filters, and also have the systems set in the office to be sure they are constantly bringing in as much outside air as possible.
Every morning each therapist must complete a health check that includes taking their temperature and a symptom checklist. The form is filled out online to report all the results before they can come into the office. We have also decided that since we are lucky enough to live in an area where testing is available and easy to access we have been getting tested every 2 weeks.
Now for the fun stuff! If you haven’t learned by now, if there is a technology-based solution to a problem, I am all in! You may have heard about some of the steps that the NBA and the PGA tour are taking as they have resumed play. In both cases, they are using devices to monitor the players’ various physiological signs to detect early warning signs of the virus. This may sound too good to be true, but it is not, and it isn’t that hard to do. At Feldman PT we are each utilizing a Garmin device that has this same functionality. We wear the devices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and they learn what is normal for our bodies. We are all familiar with our heart rate, but we also have something called heart rate variability, and for each of us, changes in that heart rate variability, as well as changes in our resting heart rate, and respiratory rate combined with information on our sleep and activity levels can give early warning signs of illness. For most people, the device will detect a potential issue before you even feel symptoms. It is very cool stuff, and the important part is that it works, and it works well!
We are all part of a larger group of PT’s that are doing this, and one important factor is that while we monitor our own data, there is an outside group that is also monitoring it. We would each notice the issue on an app on our phone, and have the ability to check on each other on a common dashboard, however, the addition of the outside monitoring is important to be sure that nothing is missed.
So, that is what we are doing to keep you safe while you are in the clinic, but what about when you are not? Well, remember that Garmin system I just explained, we are now able to offer that same monitoring service to all of our patients. You do need specific devices, but we can easily let you know if your device is compatible and if not, guide you to one that is. If you are interested in joining in, email Justin, and we will be in touch. Also if you are an employer and interested in bringing the system into your workplace, we can help with that as well.
We are so happy to be back in our offices, and so thankful for the trust you put in us each and every day. We are all going to get through this together, and be better for it on the other side!
