Dear Patients,
With each new day creating a new reality, we continue to reassess our policies and are closely following guidelines and recommendations set by the CDC, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and Washington State Physical Therapy Association (PTWA). Starting Thursday, March 19, entry into Alpine PT will be by appointment only and will continue to be limited to only those patients in the lower risk category. We are dedicated to practicing social distancing and are modifying our treatments to prioritize patient safety, and our society at large.
We ask that you come to your appointment on time and not arrive earlier than scheduled so that we can help minimize the number of people in our space at one time. Please minimize belongings such as bags, heavy jackets, and non-essential items. As you enter the clinic we will continue to require that you wash your hands or use hand sanitizer upon entry. We are no longer having patients sign-in or use chairs in the waiting area. If you have been a patient of ours you likely have heard one of us highlight the importance of "space" and "periphery," and to that end please give your best perceived effort at 6 feet of space between yourself and others during your appointment. We will continue to spread out appointments the best we can and will be changing our hours of operation to fit our lighter schedules. We hope it goes without saying that we will continue to keep a meticulously hygienic environment and will sanitize every surface and object that is utilized during our sessions, as well as common surfaces, door knobs, coat hooks, etc.
We have been working very hard over the last week to implement telehealth visits for our higher-risk patients or those who need to self-quarantine. CMS/Medicare laws have been changing rapidly to ease up telemedicine restrictions and we hope that physical therapy will be included in the near future. Private insurances will likely follow those CMS/Medicare guidelines. We will provide further information as these changes get passed into law.
We truly hope that everyone has the proper tools to keep their bodies and minds moving optimally over the upcoming weeks. We are committed to staying active and relevant in your lives and becoming more creative with how we can apply our services and knowledge base during the present circumstances. We have really enjoyed catching up with some of you through emails and phone conversations, which have helped lift our spirits over these past few weeks.
Thank you for your support and please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the policies above.