Complying with PPE Protocols and Regulations

The current healthcare crisis has presented many challenges for the physical therapy industry. It’s crucial that you create an environment where your patients feel comfortable receiving care. Help maintain your patients’ trust by complying with all regulations, developing cleaning and sanitation practices, and offering PPE during their visits to your office.

Continuing Education for Your Practice

Things are constantly changing during this pandemic, which is why you should continue to educate yourself and your staff on the latest news and updates. Whether you organize weekly education sessions or provide training materials to staff, ensure they are in the know about how to continue to protect themselves and patients.

For up-to-date news, please refer to information released by the CDC, FDA, or OSHA.

Donning & Doffing

Wearing a face mask, gown, and gloves may help to protect you from airborne particulates. However, it’s important that you understand proper donning and doffing techniques to ensure you don’t transfer germs from your mask, gown, or gloves to your hands, and then your mouth, nose, or eyes. For those unsure of the terminology, donning means to put on and doffing means to remove.

We have compiled a few tips for donning and doffing select PPE.

Mask

Wash the hands with soap and water or BodyMed® Hand Sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Take the mask and place it over the mouth and nose, ensuring there are no gaps. Take the ear loops and secure them behind the ears.
To remove, avoid touching the front of the mask that is exposed. Remove the mask from behind and discard. Again, wash the hands with soap and water or ethanol-based hand sanitizer.

Gown

Find the appropriate size and type of isolation gown needed. The BodyMed® Non-Surgical Isolation Gown is one size fits most.
Put the gown on and secure with the belt tie around the waist. This non-surgical isolation gown features a thumb-hook cuff style with long sleeves.
If the gown is too small, use two.
To remove, unfasten the belt tie. Pull the gown off from the neck and shoulders. Turn the contaminated side of the gown toward the inside. Roll it up and discard properly.

Gloves

Sanitize the hands with an ethanol-based hand sanitizer like BodyMed® Hand Sanitizer. Next, choose the glove size that best fits the size of your hand.
Ensure that all surfaces of the hands are covered by the gloves.
To remove, use one of the gloved hands and grasp the palm area of the other gloved hand. Peel off the first glove.
After removing the first glove, slide the index finger of the ungloved hand under the remaining glove starting at the wrist. Peel off the second glove.
Discard the gloves properly and wash the hands with soap and water for up to 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer may be used if soap and water are not readily available.

Stock Your Practice with Masks & Hand Sanitizer

It’s possible that your patients may forget their own mask when coming in for an appointment. Equip your practice with additional masks that patients can use. Place the masks at the front door to ensure patients can grab one before walking into the waiting room.

In addition to masks, place hand sanitizer at high-touch areas of your practice like near the entrance, in the waiting room, at the reception desk, and in treatment rooms. When purchasing hand sanitizer, ensure it is fragrance free and made with ethanol, not methanol.

For all of your PPE needs, count on MeyerPT. We carry a wide selection of products that are in stock and available for immediate shipment.

Create an account with MeyerPT today or contact your personal account manager at 1.866.528.2144 for more information.