*NEW PROTOCOLS* | Lynda’s Website

Updates will be ongoing, please check back often.

Your Massage Therapy appointment experience will now feel and look slightly different at In Balance Massage Therapy.

Going forward this will be our new standard procedure when coming in for treatments:

Before Your Appointment

There will be some changes to the way appointments are scheduled and some new procedures for arriving to your appointment to keep you safe.

When booking any appointment at our clinic I will perform a risk assessment by virtually pre-screening you for Covid-19 symptoms via email or text. This will be sent to you 24-48 hours before your appointment. At this time I will also assess your need for massage vs. the risk associated with Covid-19. If you have symptoms of Covid-19 you will not be provided with massage therapy care, and will be directed to a local public health unit.
The day before your appointment if you are experiencing symptoms or have come in contact with someone you believe to be infected, please contact me directly to reschedule your appointment. Clients suspected of being infected will need to self-isolate for 14 days before being eligible to request another appointment. Please consult the self-assessment tool for a list of symptoms (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/)
You will notice that there is more time between available appointments. I can no longer book back-to-back appointments. Added time between clients to clean, sanitize and disinfect my treatment room and the clinic restroom means I will see less clients per day. Please bear with me when I offer you an appointment time, I can no longer be flexible with my start times as i have always done, instead I now have set start times to coordinate with my coworkers so that clients are unlikely to arrive at the same time.
Ask me if you would like to know about all public health measures I have implemented.

When you arrive

When you arrive at our clinic, please look for the GREEN SIGN just to the right of the orange door. When it is suitable to “Come In” the green sign will let you know I am ready for you, otherwise a RED SIGN stating “Please wait” will be in the window. For now, the clinic door will be locked between appointments. These measures are in place to help to avoid clients from crossing paths. If you arrive at the same time as another client please text me to let me know you have arrived and i will let you know when you can come in.
I will pre screen myself prior to your arrival to ensure I too am symptom free.
Upon arrival, we are asking that our clients use hand sanitizer immediately. Please try to use the restroom before you arrive. If you would prefer to wash your hands the restroom is available and then while you are getting on the massage table I will go back and sanitize the restroom.
I am asking that you arrive to your appointment alone. If you have a guardian or care giver with you, you must tell me in advance. We no longer have a waiting area and we now have a visitor log for anyone who does not have a scheduled appointment will be asked to sign in (name, contact number and time in/time out). This is to help assist Public Health with contact tracing. All visitors are required to wear a mask.
All of our clients must wear a mask when they enter the clinic and for the entire duration of your treatment, including laying face down using the face cradle. I have medical/paper masks on hand you can purchase if you do not bring one with you. If you have any concerns about wearing a mask, contact me in advance. If you cannot wear a mask due to a chronic, existing, non-infectious respiratory condition, together I will do a risk assessment to determine next steps.
Upon entering the clinic, you will then be screened again for Covid-19 symptoms to ensure your status has not changed and verbally consent to having a treatment at this time. I might take your temperature with a touchless thermometer.
We may ask you to remove your footwear by the front door
I will be wearing the required personal protective equipment at all times.
You will see that the waiting room looks a bit different. Most of the chairs have been removed, the remaining chairs are spaced two meters apart. The water service and magazines have been removed. There is plexiglass on the desk.
You will see informational posters and instructional sheets displayed in the clinic and in the restroom. Please notice. These include the signs and symptoms of Covid-19, what to do if one is at risk, and how to limit transmission, signage reiterating the requirement to wear a mask and how to wash or disinfect your hands before proceeding.

During your appointment

While the treatment will remain as normal as possible, there will be a couple of changes.

You will be asked to wear your mask during the entire treatment.
I will also be wearing a mask at all times.
You may need to request a blanket if there isn't one on the massage table when you arrive

Behind the scenes

Changing linens and blankets between clients (which was always done). They will be washed and dried on the highest heat setting possible.
Cleaning and disinfecting high touch surfaces (e.g. light switches, door knobs, counter tops, etc.) at least twice per day.
Disinfecting the treatment room and all of its equipment between every client. This includes but is not limited to the massage table, stool, covered pillows, oil bottle and face cradle. Face cradle covers are changed after each patient (we've always done this). Please avoid touching random things (for example, the walls) in my massage room if possible, if you do, please let me know.

After the appointment

You have gotten paper receipts in the past, now I will aim for paperless receipts to discourage touching any shared surfaces. Make sure I have your current email address, text me with it in advance.
Payments for your treatments. We are asking everyone to please use e-transfer to send payment for your treatment directly to your therapist. We have a debit machine for contactless transactions, debit preferred before credit cards. I am accepting cash as well.
After the appointment I will wash my hands (including forearms and elbows) with soap and water before and after disinfecting. I will then clean and disinfect anything used during the appointment.
While you are not receiving massage therapy treatment, you should maintain a 2 meter distance.

Although the treatment environment and the procedures you are expected to follow might be a little different than before, what remains the same is my commitment to the health and safety of you, my clients.

If you have any questions regarding anything please don't hesitate to contact me directly 24/7 (my ringer is off),

or call the clinic at 905 646 4268 (please leave a message, as we do not have a receptionist)

Lynda Chatelaine Stouck, RMT

LyndaChatelaine@gmail.com

905 325 6413

PS. Please do not book an appointment with me if you are sick. Please, just wait. All of these new protocols are in place to keep everyone safe and healthy. Thank you for your understanding.