Update and Guidelines for Returning to A Step Ahead Physical Therapy

Dear A Step Ahead Client,

We know that many things have been put on hold during this public health crisis, but we wanted to let you know that we are open and seeing any clients who are in need of physical therapy or our other services. Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) guidelines, we have implemented changes in our practice so that we can safely provide care to our clients. We are taking extra steps in the office by monitoring our team members for symptoms, making changes to our staffing and scheduling procedures, sanitizing common touchpoints throughout the day, eliminating the use of our waiting room, and increasing the personal protective equipment (PPE) the staff are using. Just as we are making changes to help you, we are asking you to make changes to help us.

Prior to your appointment:

As much scheduling as possible will be done over the phone. We love seeing your friendly faces in the office, but we are going to ask that our clients set up appointments over the phone instead of dropping in the clinic.
While scheduling your first appointment back in the clinic with us, we will perform a pre-screening questionnaire over the phone.
If we need any updated paperwork, we will email that to you. Please print it off and fill it out before your appointment. If possible, we encourage you to email it back to us. If you are unable, you may bring it in.
No guests will be allowed to accompany you during your appointments. Our waiting room is closed, and our clinic is limited to staff and clients. As an exception, minors may be accompanied by a parent.

Upon arrival to your appointment:

Please stay in your car and call us to let us know you have arrived.
We will call you as soon as your physical therapist is ready, or they will wave to you from the door.
Please provide us with a copy of you CDC Vaccine card if you have been Vaccinated.
Please wear a mask to your appointments. Masks must be worn for the duration of your appointment in open /public areas. If you do not have a mask, we can provide you with one.
Your physical therapist will take your temperature and ask you screening questions.
You will be asked to wash or sanitize your hands upon entering the clinic.

During your appointment:

Masks must be worn for the duration of your appointment in open/public areas.
Clients who have been vaccinated > 2 weeks may remove masks in private /closed rooms at your discretion and the discretion of your therapist.
Your therapist will be wearing a mask in open/pubic areas.
Your therapist may limit the total area you are working in and may take you outside.

After your appointment:

We encourage you to wash your hands or sanitize after you have completed your appointment.
The front desk staff, who are also wearing masks, can help you with scheduling, but we ask that you keep a safe distance from them.
We are encouraging clients who need to make payments to use credit cards or checks instead of cash.
Credit card receipts will be emailed or texted to patients.
Please call us if you experience any symptoms of COVID-19 within 48 hours of your appointment.
Please alert us as soon as possible if you or anyone in your family is symptom free but needing to quarantine due to a possible exposure.

Other offerings:

If you would like to receive physical therapy but are unsure if you feel comfortable coming in to the clinic, we offer mobile physical therapy and telehealth (virtual) physical therapy.
Currently, many insurance companies are covering telehealth services.
If you would like more details on any of this information, please call the office at 770-998-6636 or email us at info@asaphysicaltherapy.com. We look forward to seeing you in the clinic soon!