COVID-19

Wednesday, January 27th 2021

We are dedicated to continuing our efforts to reduce the viral load within our community.
We will continue to offer teletherapy services for all patients for as long as insurance allows. If you are already participating in teletherapy, we encourage you to continue with this platform. If you have not tried teletherapy and would like to do so, please contact our office at 512-900-7934 and our patient care coordinators will assist you.

The following screening questions will be asked, prior to each in-home visit.  Each treating therapist will also have to respond NO to all of the following questions before offering in-home sessions.

• Does the patient and/or caregiver show signs or symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, chills, muscle aches, or loss of taste or smell? (Temperature will be checked upon arrival at your home and reading must be at 99.5F or below (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
• Does the patient and/or caregiver show signs of a new or worsening runny nose, nasal congestion, headache, or nausea/vomiting/diarrhea that is not related to a chronic condition
• Has the patient and/or anyone living in the same household been tested for COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
• Has the patients and/or anyone living in the same household you been asked to quarantine or been exposed to a person who has is confirmed positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
• Has the patient and/or anyone living in the same household had Contact in the last 14 days with someone who has a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, is under investigation for COVID-19, or is ill with respiratory illness?
• Has the patient and/or anyone living in the same household been asked to quarantine or been exposed to a person who has is confirmed positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days

Safety Precautions:

• Limit the number of individuals present in the space where the sessions take place to one caregiver, the patient, treating therapist, and nurse (if applicable).
• Sessions that can take place outdoors are encouraged. The caregiver must be present.
•  Therapists and patients will wash hands or utilize hand sanitizer at the beginning and end of each session.
•  Therapists will wear a surgical mask at all times unless the mask impedes the therapy session (ie. addressing speech sounds).
•  In situations where a surgical mask impedes the therapy session, therapists may use a combination of a clear mask or face shield.
•  All parents/caregivers are requested to wear a mask or a cloth face covering during the therapy session.
•  Children ages two and above who are able to tolerate a mask and take it off independently are encouraged to wear one, unless it interferes with therapy (ie. speech sounds).
•  In instances where your child does not tolerate a mask, therapists may add extra precautions such as protective eyewear or face shield.
•  During feeding therapy or other aerosol-generating procedures, therapists will follow ASHA and CDC guidelines by wearing an N95 mask, protective eyewear, and gloves.
•  Supplies brought into the home will be limited to testing materials and VitalStim Units. All materials brought into the home will be sanitized before and after each use.