Mary Boersma RMT is currently closed during this period due to heightened concern over the spread of COVID-19. I will remain closed until the end of  June 2020, at which time I will reassess.  Please take time to read through some of the new protocol for potential reopening on July 6, 2020.

Massage Therapy Update – May 28, 2020-Mary Boersma

First of all I would like to thank all my amazing clients for their patience and support over the past few months as we navigate these new times due to COVID. These have been challenging and confusing times for many of us and I would like to clarify as much as I can in regards to the announcement made yesterday by the Ontario Chief Medical Officer and how it pertains to my own practice within our community.

On Wednesday, May 27th the Ontario Government and the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health have provided a new directive for Regulated Health Professionals that allow for a gradual restart of services to be carried out with adherence to guidance from each health profession’s regulatory college.
The directive includes Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) under the guidance of our College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO). I want to clarify that this announcement was a general statement which means not all Regulated Health Professionals will be opening at the same time or at the same rate (or at all, for now).
At this time our College, the CMTO, is not expecting RMTs to return to practice if they do not feel it is appropriate or safe to do so. The CMTO also encourages limiting the number of in-person visits by prioritizing clients with essential care needs. *Treatment is considered essential when: the client’s overall health or function would considerably decline if treatment were not provided (i.e. lead to hospitalization or other serious health consequences)*

Our first priority as Massage Therapists is to the health and safety of clients, our communities, our families, and to our ourselves to ensure that the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks. In my own personal practice, although there are many benefits to massage therapy treatments, many of my treatments are for wellness and/or maintenance and therefore are not currently an essential healthcare treatment at this time, due to the risks still present due to COVID-19. At the end of June, I will reassess.  My current goal is to have a gradual reopening beginning July 6, 2020. At that time, I will be prioritizing clients with essential care needs first.

Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) may only open if:

* They have assessed the risks associated with COVID-19. Health and safety is our first priority.

* They have completed additional health and safety training requirements set out by the MOH.

* They can follow all directions provided by the MOH.

* They feel that it is appropriate to reopen given their location and local COVID-19 numbers.

In addition to that:

* Massage Therapy treatments will only be provided by prioritizing clients with essential care needs. Massage Therapy treatment is considered essential care when the client’s overall health or function would considerably decline if treatments were not provided (i.e. lead to hospitalization or other serious health consequences).

* The anticipated benefits of treatment must outweigh the risks to the client and the RMT. Clients who do not fall into the priority / essential care category are kindly requested to wait to schedule your appointment at a later date when restrictions are further eased.

​Other criteria to reopening includes:

* Clients will be screened for symptoms and exposure two days before their appointment and then again upon arrival.

* Both client and therapist will wear masks during the entire visit. The therapist will wear a new surgical mask for each client. The client is asked to bring their own cloth or disposable mask. If they do not have one, the therapist will provide one.

* Conversation during treatment will be limited to treatment-related questions and answers.

* The therapist will thoroughly wash her hands (including forearms and elbows) with soap and water between clients and will use Health Canada-approved hand sanitizer to disinfect her hands immediately before and after treatments.

* Proper hand hygiene will be enforced as clients will be provided with hand sanitizer before and after treatments.

* There will be longer spaces between appointments to ensure two clients are not present at the same time and to provide time to follow stricter disinfecting guidelines. All appointments will be one hour in duration.

* A “wipe-twice” method (wipe once to clean, wipe again to disinfect) will be used to both clean and disinfect all contact surfaces.

* Only disinfectants approved by Health Canada will be used.

* Sheets, pillowcases and face rest covers will continue to be changed between each client and laundered at the end of the day. Vinyl pillowcases will be added to all pillows and will be disinfected between uses. The top blanket will also be changed and laundered for each client.

* The therapist will change her clothes between each client.

* A general infection prevention and control record/log and a roster of all people entering the space will be maintained for contact tracing purposes.

* COVID-19 signage will be posted in the treatment space.
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Please remain patient as implementation of these guidelines and the obtaining of sufficient PPE due to shortages can be a lengthy process. As I have stated before the health & safety of myself, my family , clients and all of my community is my top priority. Let’s hope that by following these stricter guidelines we will continue to see a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases.

I will eventually return to practice when I feel it safe to do so and I will keep everyone posted as I make those decisions.

Thank you to everyone in this amazing and supportive community for your continued support .
All the best to all you and your families.

Sincerely,

Mary Boersma

MASSAGE THERAPY

Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques/Prehab and Rehabilitative Exercise