In this time of pandemic with COVID-19, learn how to manage pain, inflammation and your immune system with physical therapy in our May 2020 newsletter!
Category Archives: Health
Latest Update on COVID-19 from Excel CEO Kristin Mullen
To Our Patients,
As part of our ongoing efforts to communicate with our patients during this critical time period, we wanted to share several updates since our last correspondence and hope that you and your families continue to remain healthy and safe.
The past several weeks have marked a challenging time for each of us, as we deal with unprecedented actions and new ways to go about our daily activities. During this time, our focus is on our patients and we remain committed to servicing the needs of our patient population during this time of crisis. While we do not know how long these conditions will last, we have taken multiple steps to ensure that we continue to remain available for all of our patients, and do so in the safest way possible.
Our goal is to continue to balance the need to assist all of our patient population, including those who suffer in pain and require manual therapy or stimulation which can only be performed in a clinic setting, while also offering TeleHealth services to assist patients as a temporary means to deliver care and also relieve any added burden to the health system. We continue to monitor directives from Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, who detail in their most recent update dated March 30th that individuals are allowed to perform tasks essential to maintain health and safety, which includes visiting a healthcare professional, as well as travel to a life-sustaining business such as Excel Physical Therapy.
As of Monday, March 30, 2020, all of our Excel clinics have reopened under new safety protocols, in which our physical therapists are available to perform in-clinic treatment and we are currently accepting calls and scheduling appointments for patient visits. These protocols include new precautionary safety measures and implementation of patient screening areas that meet and exceed the recommended guidelines from OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). A list of our specific measures is included in this email and can be found on our website in our COVID-19 information section. Our website also includes a short video which details the new process a patient will experience upon visiting our clinics.
We have also introduced a new TeleHealth service as of Monday, March 30, 2020, to accommodate patients who may be unable to visit a clinic setting, or for higher-risk patients, such as those over age 65, or those who are immunocompromised, to obtain treatment until such time that they are able to obtain in-clinic therapy. Many insurance providers have recently relaxed their requirements to allow for payment and wider use of TeleHealth Services. The Services area of our website provides additional details about TeleHealth, its ease of use, as well as insurance coverages, length of treatment sessions and the differences between TeleHealth and In-Clinic visits. Please contact any of our clinics directly to learn more and see if TeleHealth is the right choice to achieve your recovery goals.
Our website is a valuable tool to obtain the latest updates regarding COVID-19 Information, TeleHealth, Excel Physical Therapy News, Videos and resources to locate and contact any of our 33 area clinics, or to submit a request for an Appointment or Online Inquiry via our Contact Us page. We also invite you to visit and Like our Excel Physical Therapy Facebook Page which is updated daily with important resources and information.
Effective March 30, 2020, Excel Physical Therapy has implemented the following Clinic Precautions to ensure patient safety:
- All staff will be screened prior to entering the clinic daily (temperature and symptom screening)
- All patients will be screened prior to each clinic visit. A patient screening station will be established at each of our clinics to assess for risk of contact exposure or symptoms prior to entry. Should we identify any risk, the appointment will be rescheduled.
- We strongly recommend all patients wear a mask or face covering to their appointment, in accordance with CDC guidelines
- Each physical therapist will only schedule 1 in clinic patient per hour.
- Only half of our staff will be in the clinic at one time, with no overlap in schedules
- Each physical therapist will be required to utilize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while treating patients
- All equipment, common areas, entry and exit doors and access areas will be sanitized hourly
- All highly touched items (coffee, food, magazines) will be removed from the waiting area
- Community water stations will be closed and considered off limits
- Any patient over the age of 65, or those with a compromised immune system or other high risk ailment, will be encouraged to speak with their physician and physical therapist for proper guidance as to whether it is recommended to attend in-clinic therapy, utilize TeleHealth, or postpone treatment to a later date.
- Patient waiting areas will have chairs separated, as will the gym area, so as to continue to maintain the practice of physical distance
- All therapeutic areas will continue to be sanitized before, during and after each patient
We look forward to continuing to serve you and will share additional updates as we progress in this unprecedented time period. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 866-883-9235 if we can be of further assistance and thank you for your continued trust.
Sincerely,
Kristin Mullen, CEO
Excel Physical Therapy
Updated Clinic Protocols and Safety video
Click to view a video overview of our new safety protocols at our clinics which are now effective March 30, 2020 to ensure patient safety.
https://www.facebook.com/EandATherapy/videos/886312305151450/
A Message from the CEO of Excel Physical Therapy: March 26, 2020
We hope you continue to remain healthy and safe during this unprecedented time period and wanted to share some additional updates in regard to our planned future activities.
On March 16th, following initial recommendations by Governor Wolf, our company took unprecedented action to close all of our physical therapy clinics for a two week period, as there was no clear guidance at that time from state health or government authorities as how best to operate. Since that time, Governor Wolf and State Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine have developed Industry Operations Guidance for all businesses in the State of Pennsylvania, which is available for the public to view and a link to this document is available on our website in our COVID-19 Information section.
Under the Industry Guidance, Excel Physical Therapy, as an Outpatient Care Center, has been deemed an essential service and may continue physical operations. Over the course of 30 years in which our company has been in business, we have treated almost 100,000 patients and while there is a segment of our patient population who may benefit from a TeleHealth solution, there exists many patients who suffer in pain and require manual therapy or stimulation, which can only be performed in a clinic setting in order for them to achieve their recovery goals. Left untreated, this patient population risks going to urgent cares and hospital emergency rooms to seek pain relief, which is an added burden to our health systems at the present time. In addition, this patient population may be prescribed opioids to temporarily relive their pain, which can lead to dependency and other ailments. Our decision to reopen must balance the need to assist all of our patients, and to that effect, we are offering both a Telehealth and in clinic option for patients to pursue. While we have been deemed an essential service in order to remain open, we choose to do so only by implementing precautionary measures at each of our clinics, which not only meet, but exceed the recommendations and guidelines of both OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).
To that effect, we are planning to re-open our 33 clinics on Monday, March 30, 2020 and will resume in clinic services, as well as offer TeleHealth operations to accommodate both new and existing patients. In order to ensure a healthy and safe workplace environment for all patients and employees, it is necessary for us to begin to prepare now for this implementation. We realize that as this serious situation evolves, we will continue to follow appropriate guidance from the CDC, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and Governor Wolf, as well as directives from local governments. We will share additional communications as we proceed, as well as when our normal operations resume, but wanted to convey some of the precautionary efforts we are undertaking to assure our patient’s safety:
- All staff will be screened prior to entering the clinic daily (temperature and symptom screening)
- All patients will be screened prior to each clinic visit. A patient screening station will be established at each of our clinics to assess for risk of contact exposure or symptoms prior to entry. Should we identify any risk, the appointment will be rescheduled.
- Each physical therapist will only schedule 1 in clinic patient per hour.
- Only half of our staff will be in the clinic at one time, with no overlap in schedules
- Each physical therapist will be required to utilize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while treating patients
- All equipment, common areas, entry and exit doors and access areas will be sanitized hourly
- All highly touched items (coffee, food, magazines) will be removed from the waiting area
- Community water stations will be closed and considered off limits
- Any patient over the age of 65, or those with a compromised immune system or other high risk ailment, will be encouraged to postpone in-clinic treatments and may utilize TeleHealth, if they choose.
- Patient waiting areas will have chairs separated, as will the gym area, so as to continue to maintain the practice of physical distance
- All therapeutic areas will continue to be sanitized before, during and after each patient
As a company, we are committed to ensuring optimal health for all of our patients and want to remain the chosen destination for physical therapy treatment. This is an extremely challenging time for all of us, and we want to remain available to service our community in the safest way possible.
Please feel free to contact us at info@excelphysicaltherapy.com or via our Excel hotline at 866-883-9235, or call any of our clinics should you have any questions, or if we can be of further assistance. Our representatives are currently available to assist in scheduling an appointment, or answering any additional concerns. We look forward to continuing to assist our patients in their recovery and thank you for your continued trust.
Sincerely,
Kristin Mullen, CEO
Excel Physical Therapy
Updated Message from the CEO of Excel Physical Therapy Regarding COVID-19
Excel Physical Therapy continues to monitor the latest updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as other Federal, State and Local Authorities in regard to coronavirus (2019 n-Cov) mitigation efforts. Since our last communication under a week ago, several additional actions have recently been implemented by state and local authorities and we wanted to provide the most recent update to our patients as we enter a critical time period.
Due to updated directives at the federal, state and local level regarding COVID-19 prevention efforts, Excel Physical Therapy has made the decision to close our clinics at the end of business today, Monday, March 16, 2020 for patients to receive in clinic physical therapy. We anticipate reopening our clinics on Monday, March 30, 2020, however, our plans to reopen will be based on the latest directives from state and local authorities, as well as CDC guidance.
We believe this is a prudent decision to prioritize the health and safety for all of our patients and staff as we navigate this critical time period. While patients will not be able to receive in clinic physical therapy during this time, we are implementing our emergency plan which consists of the following procedures:
- Continuity of Care: Our therapists are in the process of contacting all existing patients via telephone and email to advise of this update and will create an action plan which consists of communicating with their assigned patients 1 to 2 times per week for 30 minutes, with the goal of follow up and assistance with a Home Exercise Program
- Physician Communications: We are maintaining “virtual” communications with our physician referrers to ensure a direct line of communication should a need arise regarding a patient’s plan of care, or to update a patient’s prescription for physical therapy, and to coordinate any needs for a patient to visit a physician should they have a specific treatment concern
- Therapist Availability: While in clinic physical therapy is temporarily suspended, all of our therapists remain available for patients via phone, text or email to address any patient or physician concern.
Upon the conclusion of the COVID-19 preventative action directive, which we hope will be in the near future, we will begin to reopen clinics and return to normal operations, which include scheduling appointments for new and existing patients. Until that time occurs, each week, our Leadership Team will review the current state and we plan to provide additional updates to our patients and community partners as we navigate this unprecedented event.
Please contact us at info@excelphysicaltherapy.com or via our Excel hotline at 866-883-9235 should you have any specific questions or additional concerns. We look forward to continuing to assist our physical therapy patients in their recovery and thank you for your continued trust.
Sincerely,
Kristin Mullen, CEO
Excel Physical Therapy
ALL EXCEL PHYSICAL THERAPY CLINICS REMAIN OPEN
Excel Physical Therapy COVID-19 UPDATE: March 12, 2020:
Today Governor Wolf announced additional efforts targeted at containing COVID-19 specifically in Montgomery County, PA for the next 14 days. Please note that Excel Physical Therapy, as an Outpatient Physical Therapy Service firm is considered critical infrastructure, and as such, ALL EXCEL PHYSICAL THERAPY LOCATIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR ALL PATIENTS. Our therapists are available to assist with treatment and are staffed appropriately to service our patients. As part of our normal business practices, but even more so during this period of heightened awareness, we are implementing efforts to disinfect and sanitize all patient and common areas to ensure the health and welfare for all of our patients.
We stand ready to provide patient assistance as necessary during this critical time period and please feel free to contact any of our clinics directly or via our website at www.excelphysicaltherapy.com for additional information or if we can be of further assistance.
In Good Health,
The Excel PT Team
A message from the CEO of Excel Physical Therapy regarding COVID-19
To Our Patients and Community Partners:
At Excel Physical Therapy, the health and safety of our patients, staff, and community is our highest priority and we have been monitoring the recent updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in regard to concerns about coronavirus (2019 n-Cov). As a part of our standard business practices, and especially during flu season, we promote and encourage additional precautions to reduce the spread of influenza-like illnesses at our clinics and follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and CDC Guidelines at each of our facilities every day. As additional information becomes available, we will continue to follow guidance from the CDC to implement efforts to reduce the likelihood of illness and wanted to share some precautionary measures, as well as efforts we are undertaking when visiting our clinics.
Precautionary Measures:
At this time, the CDC has advised that the situation is rapidly evolving and the risk assessment is being updated frequently. We strongly encourage the following practices to help reduce the spread of illness as recommended by the CDC:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
- Stay home when you are sick;
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue (NOT your hands), then dispose of directly in a trash receptacle;
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or sanitization wipe;
- Follow CDC’s recommendations regarding the use of a facemask:
- The CDC does not recommend that people who do not exhibit signs of illness wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Facemasks should be used primarily by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
- Review and follow CDC Travel Advisories when planning travel. If you become ill after returning home, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Precautionary Measures at our Clinics:
Additionally, to protect and provide a safe treatment environment, our front desk staff will begin to ask patients upon arrival whether they are currently experiencing any illness or flu-like symptoms, to assess the risk of exposure to staff and other patients. Based on the response, our patient service representatives have been instructed to exercise the following actions if necessary:
- If a patient needs to cancel an appointment because they are ill, Excel will not charge any cancellation fee.
- If a patient arrives for an appointment and exhibits signs of fever or respiratory illness, we will ask that they reschedule their appointment when they are feeling better (free of fever for 24 hours) and direct them to their Primary Care Physician immediately. Excel will also not charge any cancellation fee for this occurrence.
Within each of our clinics, the following precautions are part of our standard operating protocols and these efforts will be monitored and increased:
- All of our Physical Therapy Exam Tables are disinfected and sanitized prior to each patient’s use
- All pillowcases and towels are washed with detergent and hot water, along with heated drying
- Staff and patients are both strongly encouraged to wash their hands often, with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially prior to known risk factors such as coughing, sneezing, blowing their nose, eating, or visiting the restroom
- The exterior and interior door handles, to access and proceed into our clinics, are also cleaned so as to minimize contact exposure
- The waiting area in our clinics is also wiped/disinfected to minimize the risk of any exposure
As additional information becomes available, we will take appropriate action to continue to protect the health and welfare of all of our patients and staff. We want to reassure current and prospective patients that during this time of heightened awareness, Excel Physical Therapy continues to provide quality care while meeting and exceeding recommendations of the CDC.
For additional information regarding coronavirus, please visit these websites:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html
National Institute for Health:
https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus
From the World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Thank you for your continued trust and should you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at info@excelphysicaltherapy.com or speak with any of our area Clinic Directors for further assistance.
Sincerely,
Kristin Mullen, CEO – Excel Physical Therapy
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Learn about Pelvic Health and the benefits of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy in our March 2020 Excel PT Newsletter!
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Learn methods to relieve neck and shoulder pain in our February 2020 Newsletter!
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Learn more about ways to reduce your fall risk and improve balance in our January 2020 patient newsletter!
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