Virtual Visits? We can STILL fix that!

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought us all together to watch this train-wreck of a television series which you either love or hate (or love to hate).

She still falls over sometimes. And I’m always there to snap a picture. ;)

It’s been a bit of a bumpy ride lately, but it hasn’t been all bad since lock down.  For the first time in decades, American culture has slowed down and the emphasis has returned to family activities and down time – things we have neglected for years.  Our country has stopped to smell the roses, so to speak.  We are leaving messages of hope for one another on sidewalks, in windows, and with our actions.  And (perhaps most importantly), we were given the gift of Tiger King which has brought us all closer together.

For the first time in what seems like forever, I am actually caught up on paperwork!!  My oldest daughter finally learned to ride a bike, and we’ve created an outdoor space for our kids to safely explore with an appropriate level of independence.  I’ve had the “joy” of trying to teach my littlest to understand phonics, while trying to encourage my older (mini-me) to practice her math skills (like her mother, mini-me does *not* like math, so we are additionally very thankful that liquor stores have been deemed essential).

This forced time at home has not been without its stresses, of course.  The forced closure of small business and restaurants has added significant financial stresses to many.  As an outpatient clinic, we fell into a strange category of “essential” with many “non-essential” patients.  As healthcare providers, we felt a strong sense of duty to do our part in preventing the spread of Covid-19.  We quickly got to work to determine which patients would regress without care and thus needed to be seen, versus which patients could wait for physical therapy.  We created another list of patients we could help via digital communications known as telehealth. 

We found a vine in the woods next to our house, so now we have a tree swing!

Initially, the list of potential telehealth patients was very small.  Our approach at Redpoint has always been very hands on through manual therapy and corrective exercises.  We found ourselves doubting our abilities to translate our skillset to a virtual format.  But, the more we discussed the matter, the more confident we became that we STILL have SO MUCH to offer to our community.  The number of people we wanted to help through telehealth visits grew.

“We are movement specialists.”

We don’t need our hands to observe movement patterns or trouble shoot through issues you might be having.  We can still empower people to care for themselves with tools around their house.  We will still be able to teach our patients exercises to help address their weaknesses.  We can still assist in realigning their posture or loosening tight muscles. Our approach to physical therapy is the same, except now your hands become extensions of our as we coach you on how to resolve your pain.

If we cannot help you through the computer, don’t worry!  We are still seeing a few patients in the office!  If you are considered an “urgent” case (post-surgical, or incapable of moving without immediate attention), we’ll get you in.

If you are deemed urgent for a clinic visit, please be advised of our current policies:

·        No more than 3 patients in the clinic at any one time.

·        All patients and therapists arrive in clean clothes, showered, and wash their hands upon arrival.

·        Fevers are checked and anyone with symptoms of any description is sent home. 

·        Shoes are left at the door, so wear fun socks! 

·        We clean equipment fastidiously after each use and clean the floor, walls, door knobs and other surfaces throughout the day.

·        And remember, only the most urgent cases are seen in the clinic to minimize the number of bodies walking through the door.

Not sure about telehealth?  Give us a try!  Call our office for a free consult over the phone, and if we feel we can help, we’ll schedule your evaluation.  Most insurance companies are covering telehealth, so the cost of visits will be equal (or less than) a clinic visit in most cases.