Healthy Aging Physical Therapy takes every precaution to keep you and your loved ones safe in the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Dr. Katie Wadland has now been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. For those who would prefer virtual visits, sessions can be held via Telehealth over our Doxy platform for the remainder of this Covid-19 pandemic.

Read more below to learn about our Covid-10 Considerations and Protocols.

Covid-19: Considerations and Healthy Aging Physical Therapy Protocols

While it may seem crazy to some to open a business in the middle of a pandemic (yes, I’m looking at you, Mom) it’s actually not coincidence that I choose to launch Healthy Aging Physical Therapy in the midst of this Coronavirus experience. When Covid-19 made it’s way to the northeast, I was working as a home health therapist for a large hospital system north of Boston. With the sudden closures of nonessential businesses this past spring, and the streamlining of medical services to clear room for Covid positive patients within the hospital system, many found themselves ‘stuck at home,’ literally, dealing with their medical issues alone with their normal medical support network suddenly inaccessible. With outpatient therapy centers closed, we, as home health professionals, often had nowhere to send our discharging patients on to next to continue their rehabilitation. We were left with a choice to keep people on longer than normal (opening ourselves to potential insurance denial and causing backup in the system) or to discharge them to fend for themselves and continue their recoveries alone. We were forced to choose between a rock and a hard place and the home health system felt the burden.

While outpatient centers have since reopened, though at a reduced capacity, I do fear, and expect, a similar pattern to recur this fall and into the winter. By opening as a Mobile PT provider, able to offer outpatient-level services to patients in their own home settings, I realized I had an opportunity both to meet an immediate need in my community and create an opportunity for myself to be able to continue working despite all the unknowns of the upcoming year. I could mix everything I loved about treating in the outpatient setting with everything I loved about treating people in their own homes.

So, with numbers rising yet again, and summer quickly slipping away, I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know how I am preparing to deal with working within a pandemic this coming year. I have put significant thought and planning into both how to keep myself and my patients safe, and also, how I can help patients recover from Covid-19 when the need arises.

Prevention and Screening

To stay healthy and protect my patient during my visit, I keep up-to-date with the latest recommendations for personal and patient protection by following the CDC Guidelines for Healthcare Workers. During each patient visit, I wear a surgical mask, a face shield, and take care to use frequent hand washing and/or gloves to further avoid contact transmission. I own and will wear an N-95 mask if I develop concerns that a patient I am working with may have Covid-19. I carry hospital-grade disinfectant, CaviCide, to clean items before and after use with patients and will only be using items with non-porous surfaces, which I keep secured in a Rubbermaid container for ease of transport and isolation. I even show up with my own mini-office: a small camping chair and side table so I can avoid ‘couch-to-butt’ transmission as I travel among homes for the day :)

I use a screening protocol to determine risk before I see each patient. If a patient acknowledges any potentially Covid-related symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath or sore throat among others) or has had a significant exposure to a Covid-positive individual, in-person visits will be put on hold until they are tested and negative, and if positive, until ten days have passed since onset of symptoms and when they are fever-free and symptom free for at least 24 hours, without use fever-reducing medication, or until they are able to obtain a follow-up Covid test with negative results, whichever comes first. I am able and willing to perform visits via Telehealth in the meantime and would be happy to do so.

Treatment for Patients Recovering from Covid-19

While I will not be accepting patients with active Covid-19 infections, I am ready to and able to help patients to recover once they are clear. While most patients will find they experience only mild illness, upwards to 20% will have prolonged recoveries. Of those, individuals who had ICU stays, were reliant on mechanical ventilation and/or have been diagnosed with Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) will have extensive rehabilitation needs following their experience. These individuals will likely have significant muscle weakness, due to Critical Illness Polyneuropathy (CIP), Critical Illness Myopathy (CIM) or both and will need skilled guidance on progressive strengthening to return to their baseline level of function. They will likely also suffer from severe deconditioning, persistent fatigue and shortness of breath, due in part from the prolonged hospitalization period, but also due to the damage this virus causes within the lungs. As we have all unfortunately learned over the past few months, Covid-19 is not simply a respiratory infection as it was initially assumed. Instead, it can have far reaching systemic effects on the neuromuscular system, within the metabolic system, on the integument and perhaps most importantly, in the cardiovascular system. Choosing a Physical Therapist competent at identifying these potential comorbidities and complications is as important as choosing one who can help you get stronger. With my background in neurorehabilitation, geriatric care and home health, I can help you recover while also keeping you safe.

If you would like to learn more about the role of the Community PT in Covid-19 recovery, the APTA published ‘The Essential Role of Home- and Community-Based Physical Therapists During the COVID-19 Pandemic, in July’s edition of ‘Physical Therapy.’ Outlining many of the issues I addressed in this post, it also looks at the Home Health and Community PT’s role in overall management of the Coronavirus pandemic, which I found particularly interesting.

Referral and Consultation

If you, or someone you know, has been diagnosed with Covid-19, and would benefit from my services to aid in their recovery, please contact HAE/PT to set up a consultation. I would be best able to help an individual who no longer has skilled nursing needs or is no longer home bound, but is not ready to, is not able to, or does not wish to, attend therapy at an outpatient clinic at this time. If you are Covid-recovered, and still don’t feel back to yourself, feel free to call or email me with any questions about your post-Covid care or to set up an appointment for a consultation.

Other Resources:

Learn more about Covid-19 recovery

So, You Got Covid-19…Now What?

Learn about the Pulmonary System

Part 1: the Basics

Part II: Aging and Dysfunction

Part II: Lifestyle Modification and Exercise