What to Expect at Your Chiropody Visit During Covid-19

Visiting with your health care providers during the Covid-19 pandemic will look a bit different compared to just a few months ago. Even as restrictions are lifted, there will be many safeguards in place to keep patients, staff, and practitioners safe.

Currently, Chiropodists (me!) in Ontario are able to treat and manage essential care needs. This may be, but not limited to: a painful or infected ingrown toenail, a significantly painful corn or callus, a new or sudden onset of pain, swelling, and/or numbness in your feet, or a new/current ulceration. Many Chiropodists are triaging over the phone or using virtual consulting to determine if a patient does require a face to face visit. Although this is an excellent tool, there are times where a patient will need to physically make a trip to the office. Once triaged, you will be asked a set of questions. Most surround Covid-19 symptoms or contact with symptomatic individuals. Answering no to all the questions means your appointment can be booked. GREAT! You passed...Screening round 1...wait, there's more? You will have to have answer these questions two more times. Again at your appointment reminder, and one more time when you physically check in for your appointment. Triple screening ensures Chiropodists (hi, me again!) are keeping everyone safe by accounting for any time that may have passed between booking and attending. It is imperative you contact your practitioner or their office and make them aware as soon as possible if here are any changes to answers between the time of your 1st, to 2nd, and 2nd to 3rd screen.

You finally made it! You're ready to walk in the office and get that ingrown toenail dealt with. Not so fast, some offices have very specific instructions on entering their office space. I currently keep my office door locked and contact my next patient via phone or text when I am ready and unlock the door to let them in. This is to ensure minimal patients are sitting in a waiting room, and to reduce walk in traffic. You’ve now made it through the 2nd set of screen questions, get inside the office, get past the 3rd screen, and are ready to meet the big boss at the end of the video game ..wait..I mean Chiropodist. Well, there are a few other safeguards which will be in place. When in the office, you will be asked to put on a mask to follow Universal Masking Precautions, and clean your hands with some hand sanitizer. I will be wearing a gown, a mask and either really stylish goggles or an even more stylish face shield. These items are to protect the patient and myself. I understand it can be a bit stressful interacting with someone in all that gear, but I really am here to help you and make sure I am doing it in a safe manner. I will escort you into the treatment room and from there your treatment should be pretty similar to what you are used to, with a lot more hand sanitizing on my part.

Once treatment is completed, I sanitize some more, and we will do our best to keep to non-contact forms of payment, like tap or electronic bank transfers. Preferably invoices would be emailed, but if you would like a paper copy, we use hand sanitizer at strategic points to pass paper to one another. If needed, a return visit can be made at this time. You will then be asked to remove your mask and discard it in the trash bin, then you will sanitize your hands one more time before you leave. You made it! Phew..what a ride!

Behind the scenes, after you have left, I will wipe down EVERYTHING you or I have, or could have come into contact with. This would include the treatment chair, the waiting room chair, the light switches, desks, door handles, point of sale terminal etc. I allocate time between each patient to ensure I have thoroughly cleaned everything and allowed it to dry. I would like say, as a practitioner, I self monitor with all the same questions I ask patients. I take my temperature daily and make a list of all the places I have been. I have an obligation, which I take extremely seriously, to the public, and I make myself accountable by making sure I am healthy enough to care for your needs. My intention with this post is to make patients feel comfortable in my space and with me. I may make light of a few things, but I fully understand the complexities of this virus and the impact it has, not only on individuals, but on communities and businesses alike. It's important you know the ones who are caring for you are holding themselves to a high level of standard to ensure safety in your community and care setting. Have a comment or question, leave it below!

(By law, I am unable to provide medical advice through forms of media such as this one.)