Many counties are moving to Level Yellow and Blue – what does that mean for chiropractors?? As always, we encourage every chiropractor to review the most recent Public Health Order 20-36 (8th edition). This PHO expires 30 days from March 7, 2021, unless extended.
Chiropractors still must also follow Appendix G: Limited Healthcare Settings listed in PHO 20-36 COVID-19 DIAL. Please scroll down for the current language. This has not changed.
As a reminder – here are the regulations for the different dial levels according to the 8th amended Public Health Order 20-36.
Level Green: Counties and regions certified for Level Green may allow any business or activity within their jurisdiction to operate at 50% of their pre-pandemic capacity not to exceed 500 people, whichever is less, in any one setting.
Level Blue: Limited Healthcare Settings may operate at 50% of the posted occupancy limit, not to exceed 50 people, whichever is less, per room.
Level Yellow: Limited Healthcare Settings may operate the same as Level Blue.
Level Orange: Limited Healthcare Settings may operate at 25% of the posted occupancy limit, not to exceed 25 people, whichever is less, per room.
Level Red: Limited Healthcare Settings may operate at 25% of the posted occupancy limit, not to exceed 25 people, per room to provide those services.
Level Purple: Limited Healthcare Settings that provide services may operate at 10% of the posted occupancy limit, not to exceed 25 people, per room to provide those services.
Keep an eye on your county here through the State’s Dial Dashboard!
APPENDIX G: LIMITED HEALTHCARE SETTINGS
I. Limited Healthcare Settings may operate at the level described in Section II of this
Order for which the county in which they operate is approved, and must follow the requirements included in Section III.C of this Order, as well as all of the requirements of this Appendix. Limited Healthcare Settings may conduct voluntary and elective surgeries and procedures in limited healthcare facilities and offices with required personal protective equipment (PPE) in accord with the priorities, requirements, and specific criteria below.
A. Employers and sole proprietors of Limited Healthcare Settings must implement the following measures within the overall workplace, including administrative and front office operations, to minimize disease transmission:
1. The practice must have access to adequate PPE in order to sustain recommended PPE use for its workforce for two weeks without the need for emergency PPE-conserving measures. If a practice proposes to extend the use of or reuse PPE, it must follow CDC guidance.1
2. The practice must implement strict infection control policies as recommended by the CDC.2
3. The practice must ensure a minimum of 6 feet of separation between clients and patients, when not directly performing service, and all settings offering services in individuals rooms must comply with the requirements of this Order for each room.
4. The practice must post signage for employees and patients on good hygiene and safety measures being taken.
5. The practice must minimize in-home and in-facility services with remote alternatives whenever possible, such as drive-by services or virtual meetings.
6. Practices must maintain a plan to reduce or stop voluntary and elective surgeries and procedures should a surge/resurgence of COVID-19 cases occur in their region.
B. Employers of Limited Healthcare Settings must implement the following measures regarding employees to minimize disease transmission:
1. Services with close, direct personal contact must implement the following:
a. wear medical grade mask and gloves at all times; however, acupuncturists may substitute good hand hygiene by thoroughly washing hands before and after seeing each patient for the gloves if their licensing requirements and standards so allow;
b. change gloves and wash hands between every patient;
c. clean and disinfect all shared equipment and tools between every patient; and
d. maintain a detailed log of patient interactions to enable contact tracing if it becomes necessary. The log should include name, date, details of services performed, and location of contact, as well as the contact’s phone number
e. for services where the client cannot wear a mask, the employee or practitioner must wear a face shield in addition to their mask.
2. Services with low personal contact must implement the following:
a. maintain a minimum of six 6 feet of separation between customers;
b. require face coverings and, if feasible, gloves for any customer interactions; and
c. provide guidance on strict hygiene precautions to employees.
3. The practice must require all administrative personnel to wear a facemask, that can be cloth if necessary, unless the individual cannot medically tolerate a face covering, or is performing one of the enumerated activities in Section II.M of Executive Order D 2020 138, as amended and extended. In order to ensure staff can take off their masks for meals and breaks, scheduling and location for meals and breaks should ensure that at least a 6-foot distance can be maintained between staff when staff needs to remove their mask. It is important for healthcare settings to emphasize that hand hygiene is essential to maintaining employee safety, even if staff are wearing masks. If the facemask is touched, adjusted or removed, hand hygiene should be performed.
C. Limited Healthcare Settings must implement the following measures regarding customers to minimize disease transmission:
1. The practice must provide services by appointment only, do not allow walk-ins or waiting for an appointment;
2. The practice must require patients to wear face coverings; if a patient does not have a mask, a “disposable medical mask” could be provided;
3. The practice must conduct symptom checks for all patients, decline to provide services to anyone who has symptoms, and refer them to their primary care physician. A sample form can be found here; and
4. The practice must provide contactless payment options whenever possible;
5. The practice must follow Distancing protocols of maintaining at least a 6-foot distance between individuals wherever possible such as in waiting rooms and other small spaces, and should use physical barriers within patient care areas when possible.
6. The practice must appropriately schedule patients, so that providers have sufficient time to change PPE and ensure rooms and equipment can be cleaned and disinfected between each patient.
7. The practice should continue to maximize the use of telehealth and virtual office or clinic visits.
8. The practice should use virtual waiting rooms when possible, with patients who are able to wait in their cars not entering the office until they can be moved immediately to an exam room.
9. The practice should implement source control for everyone entering the office or clinic, including requiring all patients and visitors to wear a cloth mask when entering any healthcare building, and if they arrive without a mask, one should be provided.
D. As best practice, it is recommended that if performing voluntary and elective surgeries and procedures, Limited Healthcare Settings reassess their operations every two weeks, in order to ensure:
1. All of the above approaches and criteria are being met;
2. Procedures are prioritized based on whether their continued delay will have an adverse health outcome.
a. Voluntary and elective surgeries and procedures should be prioritized based on indication and urgency ;3
3. Strong consideration is given to the balance of risks versus benefits for patients in higher-risk groups such as those over age 65 and those with compromised immune systems or lung and heart function;
4. All patients are pre-screened for COVID-19 risk factors and symptoms prior to delivering care, via telehealth when applicable; and
5. Compliance with the guidance and directives for maintaining a clean and safe work environment issued by the CDPHE and any applicable local health department for critical businesses is maintained, including compliance with Distancing Requirements and all PHOs currently in effect to the greatest extent possible.