ArtMed’s Response to COVID-19: Update

There’s a lot of chatter out there folks!! Every day we receive many, many inquiries as to when we’ll be reopening for in-person services. Why don’t we have a specific date yet? What’s happening? What will things be like at ArtMed when we do reopen? 

Since Premier Ford announced Phase 1 re-opening for May 18th our phones and emails and instagram have been have been pinging like crazy! As many of you know,Phase 1 included a very specific list of businesses. ArtMed has been offering curb-side pick-up for products for some time now and that aspect of our clinic is Phase 1. But when it comes in-person services, we are in Phase 2. Phase 2 includes service-based businesses doing elective procedures (ie. not medically necessary procedures). 

When Premier Ford announced Phase 1 opening for May 19th, he said that Phase 2 would follow 2 to 4 weeks later if all goes well. What does that mean? It means that the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Williams, must be satisfied that new COVID cases are not increasing at a rate that may lead to a second outbreak. For the past 7 days we’ve seen increasing numbers of newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases despite the fact that we’ve been testing fewer people that we did in early May. Today, the number dipped down below 300 new cases, but the previous 6 days were on an upward trend. What does this all mean? 

It means the Province of Ontario is not yet telling us when Phase 2 begins. They aren’t satisfied that it’s safe to progress to Phase 2 yet. Some clinics are posting that they’ll open next week (2 weeks after Phase 1) but the reality is that we haven’t been given the provincial green light to do so. 

For ArtMed it means we have to plan to be ready when we do finally get that green light because we may not get much warning. It’s also possible it may be awhile. It could be next week or the week or two after. We’re waiting like everyone else to hear from the province. 

As I said, this means we must be ready when the time finally comes. We will be ready. ArtMed staff have been working diligently behind the scenes to ready the clinic for the new reality of providing clinical services whilst a pandemic is underway. So what will that look like? We will provide a video in the next week or two demonstrating what a visit will look like. However, in advance of that these are some of the changes and processes you can expect to see: 

• a Covid-19 screening questionnaire will be emailed to you and you will be required to be complete it and return it to us in the 24-48 before your in-person appointment 

• controlled access to the clinic for appointments (stay in your car until a staff member comes to collect you; the back door will be locked) 

• leave as many of your belongings in car as possible 

• if no appointment – front door access only 

• must come to your appointment on your own (no friends, spouses, children) 

• plexiglass barriers in reception 

• reduced seating in the waiting room 

• no magazines/chocolate/pamphlets available 

• no testers at product shelves/ no touch-up makeup post procedure 

• all staff will wear surgical scrubs including admin staff and will follow hospital level donning/ doffing daily procedures 

• client screening at the doors (mini covid screening questionnaire; temperature check) 

• alcohol based hand sanitizer when entering/ leaving the clinic 

• requirement to wear a mask in the clinic (we will provide or you can bring) 

• full PPE for clinical staff who get closer to you than 6 ft 

• PPE includes mask/ full face shields/ gloves/ scrubs/ surgical caps if clinical/ N95 masks if smoke generating laser procedures 

• frequent cleaning of all touch surfaces in the clinic 

• twice daily temperature checks of ArtMed staff 

• intake and consent forms sent to you electronically for review and signing 

• no new consults until at least 1 month after re-opening (existing clients only) 

• altered schedule for first month 

• longer time booked for appointments 

• room cleaning procedures between each client 

• new chat service to make asking questions and booking appointments easier and more virtual 

• social distancing at all times wherever possible 

• social distancing markings on floor around reception 

There will be questions and our staff will happily answer them. I have been asked how we’re supposed to do treatments on the face when someone is wearing a mask? When a mask must be removed in order to treat the face, the clinician performing the treatment will wear full PPE (full face shield, cap, mask, gloves, scrubs). We will operate from the principle that anyone at any time could be COVID positive. Obviously we will screen for ANY risk factor alerting us to a possible COVID case. But even then, the best practice is vigilance and preventive measures. We want you to feel safe and secure when attending ArtMed for your appointments. 

What about temperatures? Why? Is that necessary? For all of our opening procedures and processes ArtMed is following the recommendations of a COVID-19 Consensus Statement for Physician Managed Offices which was created by physician leaders across Canada in Cosmetic and Aesthetic Medicine (May 2020). The document was developed in conjunction with the Canadian government and regulatory agencies. 

The consensus document recommends temperature checks of all incoming patients and twice daily for staff. This is for the protection of patients and staff. A fever is a fever. Anyone with a temperature of 38 C degrees or more will not be allowed to access the clinic. Fever is an objective sign of illness, it is not self-reported and is therefore without bias. We have been asked if a hot-flash can be misread as a fever – it cannot. Hot flashes do not change core body temperature, they are vasodilation of vessels in the skin and do not raise temperature to fever levels. The thermometer we are using is a no-touch infrared thermometer for human temperature measurement that is the highest rated for accuracy and ease of use. Temperature is measured on the forehead. 

At this point we’re waiting like everyone else. When can we socialize in groups larger than 5 people? Not yet. When will Phase 2 happen? Not yet known. What happens if COVID cases increase? Probably a delay in Phase 2. Are we likely to have another surge in COVID? Maybe. Is testing and contract tracing where it needs to be in Ontario? Probably not. Which means the most important thing is to be patient, patient, patient and practice social distancing. Wear a mask when indoors in any public location (eg stores) and outside if you can’t maintain at least 2 metres of social distancing at all times. 

ArtMed is ready to re-open. Ontario is not quite there. Meanwhile, we’ll wait patiently for further news and hopefully we’ll soon see that green light!