COVID-19 Alert Levels Response

Update: 2 November 2021

The MOH website states the following criteria regarding "protect your self and others".

Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Clinicians should assess the infection risk with their patient before a face-to-face   consultation. This will allow   clinicians to assess their own PPE requirements and their patient's requirements before commencing face-to-face consultation,
  • the level of PPE required for clinicians and patients depends on the infection risk of the patient, and the nature of the care provided.

According the MOH, at Level 3, Allied Health Practitioners (Chiropractors) are approved to see patients for face-to-face appointments and adjustments.

The  latest guidelines from  Monday 25th October  are as follows:

For First Time Consultation:
  • ​You are invited to make an "In-Practice Booking Request" via online bookings. This offers you a time and space for a face-to-face consultation,
  • You will receive an email automatically which has a link to complete a Health History Questionnaire which will help us determine whether your symptoms or condition deems you eligible for a face-to-face appointment.
  • You are requested to complete the questionnaire in advance to provide us enough time to determine if your face-to face consultation can go ahead,
  • If yes, you will receive an email confirming the Level 3 face-to-face consultation for the date and time you requested.  If not, your appointment will be changed to Telehealth so you'll receive a video call instead at the date and time requested,
  • refer to website to know more about Telehealth consultation fees.
  • for those without internet or camera access, we can call you instead on a mobile or landline number for the consultation.​

LEVEL 3 Consultations (face-to-face) Rules:
  • ​treatment that cannot be delayed or carried out remotely without risk of significant harm or permanent and/or significant  disability, or
  • where failure to access services will lead to an acute deterioration of a known condition; or
  • where delay in access to services will impact the consumer’s ability to maintain functional independence and significantly negatively impact quality of life
AND
  • which cannot be delivered by a service which is currently operating or by clinicians that are already in contact with the patient for ongoing care.
​
Precautions: 
  • ​we have implemented the rule "one in- one out" to facilitate social distance.
  • we will do the best to remain more than 2 meters away for as much as the consultation as possible, but physical contact is unavoidable when checking your spine and/or delivering an adjustment,
  • please it is extremely important you arrive on time for your appointment,
  • please stay in your vehicle if you arrive earlier,
  • if you can not come alone to your appointment, one support person is permitted to attend the appointment with you,
  • cough and sneeze etiquette,
  • the appointments will be less than 15 minutes in duration.

​Please let us know:
  • ​If you feel unwell and/or have any flu-like symptoms and/or like- COVID-19 symptoms,
  • if you are considered a probable/suspected case,
  • if you have been tested and are awaiting results for COVID-19,
  • if you have been in contact with any probable/suspected or confirmed cases,
  • if you have recently returned from overseas,
  • if you have been in a location of interest,
  • NOTE: all the information above will help to determine if a face-to-face consultation whether can proceed or not.

Practice Hygiene Steps applied (Level 1; 2 & 3):

For face-to-face consultations, the Practice Hygiene steps taken are:
  • ​every room is fully cleaned within each shift,
  • ​between each appointment, tables are cleaned using special products (Zoono)  and alcohol (based solution) disposable towels,
  • disposable face tissues are replaced,
  • ​our hands are washed routinely between appointments,
  • ​hands sanitizer       is also used,
  • hands sanitizer    is available to our Practice Members to use as well,
  • cough and sneeze  etiquette, 
  • ​magazines have been removed from the rooms and waiting areas,
  • for Practice Members aged 70 and older or with compromised immunity or respiratory conditions, we will wear PPE as appropriate for these appointments.  

​Appointments and Interactions:  
  • ​our 'regular' appointment slots are 10 minutes long each. We  have further spacing the bookings in order to maximize social distancing and your protection,
  • ​You are welcome instead to wait in your vehicles in the car park particularly if you arrive earlier,
  • Screening for COVId-19 symptoms  prior to face-to-face appointment,
  • Infection prevention control measures including PPE where required,
  • Transmission precaution  measures  including  consideration of ventilation,
  • Keep accurate  documentation of appointments to aid contact tracing if required,
  • Our practice is registered with the NZ COVID Tracer App and the poster with the unique QER code is clearly displayed at the entrance of the premises and at the first floor. 
  • PLEASE reschedule your appointment IF: 
  • You have any cold or flu symptoms such as: cough, fever, change in taste/smell, shortness of breath, sneezing, running nose, etc.,
  • You have returned from overseas in the past 14 days,
  • if you're considered a close/casual contact of anyone with confirmed/probable or suspected COVID-19 case,
  • if you have been in a "location of interest".​

Level 4  Consultations:
  • The alert level 4 health services scope of provision is to preserve life or limb only,
  • Alert level 4 is an emergency measure and has been put in place to prevent transmission,
  • Health service provision should not be face to face other than to preserve life or limb,
  • Where possible all consultations should by by phone or video.
​
Useful Links: https://www.health.govt.nz