Starting again in this different time
It's definitely a different time we are in. SARS did not create such a spread like COVID-19. Most of us could continue the normal without much worry in 2003. At first, I thought and hoped it would be the case this time as well with COVID-19 but boy was I totally wrong. Maybe most of the public health officials were dumbfounded as well. COVID-19 was a surprise and spread like a wildfire all of a sudden, causing businesses and schools to shut down and creating so much anxiety and uncertainty in our world. It all happened in mid-March when there was a huge spike up in number of cases in Canada.
Our family was very lucky to be able to travel to Cuba in January 2020 when the Asian countries were starting to lock down. The virus did not spread this way yet then. It was the very first trip for our young family of four and probably would be the last for a while. Taiwan was the first to take precaution and limited travel to and from China. It served the public in Taiwan well as the virus never spread like a wildfire in Taiwan like the rest of the world. It was certainly a steep learning curve and we all had to make it better for the future.
Now almost three months later, we could finally SLOWLY get back to our regular routine. It is especially slow in Ontario as most cases are in Toronto. For the first time in 20 years of practicing physiotherapy, we need a mask and a face shield. Of course we have used masks, gloves and gowns when there are outbreaks of flu in the nursing homes but never a face shield. In private practices, masks have been seldom used. This is definitely a first. In private clinics, we can now finally see non-urgent cases but non-essential care still remains to be seen virtually. A hybrid practice of both in-person and through video conferencing is certainly a new way that we have never seen in history.
We are asking everyone in the clinic, including the patients to wear a mask right now to prevent the spread of the virus. When the therapist has to be in close contact with the patients like working on their neck in facing-up position, the therapist will need to wear a face shield as well. It protects both the therapist and the patient. It is a bit cumbersome but overall it does not hinder any treatment needed to be provided. It is a bit harder to exercise with patients with masks on as it is more difficult to breathe through the masks. However, we can always do exercise instructions virtually. Virtual care of course comes with challenges as well. Some patients are not technologically oriented; some patients do not have space at home to receive virtual care. Proper screening before the appointment is more than important at this challenging and different time.
We will continue to provide excellent patient oriented care and we hope to help as many people as possible during this pandemic. Our hope is that a proper vaccine will be developed soon and can be available to the public as soon as possible, maybe some time in early 2021. Till then, we all have to live and practice health care with caution and with social distancing. Let's continue to remind each other how lucky we are to live in Canada, where our government is supportive and where true democracy is practiced. Stay positive and do not forget this is only temporary!
Our family was very lucky to be able to travel to Cuba in January 2020 when the Asian countries were starting to lock down. The virus did not spread this way yet then. It was the very first trip for our young family of four and probably would be the last for a while. Taiwan was the first to take precaution and limited travel to and from China. It served the public in Taiwan well as the virus never spread like a wildfire in Taiwan like the rest of the world. It was certainly a steep learning curve and we all had to make it better for the future.
Now almost three months later, we could finally SLOWLY get back to our regular routine. It is especially slow in Ontario as most cases are in Toronto. For the first time in 20 years of practicing physiotherapy, we need a mask and a face shield. Of course we have used masks, gloves and gowns when there are outbreaks of flu in the nursing homes but never a face shield. In private practices, masks have been seldom used. This is definitely a first. In private clinics, we can now finally see non-urgent cases but non-essential care still remains to be seen virtually. A hybrid practice of both in-person and through video conferencing is certainly a new way that we have never seen in history.
We are asking everyone in the clinic, including the patients to wear a mask right now to prevent the spread of the virus. When the therapist has to be in close contact with the patients like working on their neck in facing-up position, the therapist will need to wear a face shield as well. It protects both the therapist and the patient. It is a bit cumbersome but overall it does not hinder any treatment needed to be provided. It is a bit harder to exercise with patients with masks on as it is more difficult to breathe through the masks. However, we can always do exercise instructions virtually. Virtual care of course comes with challenges as well. Some patients are not technologically oriented; some patients do not have space at home to receive virtual care. Proper screening before the appointment is more than important at this challenging and different time.
We will continue to provide excellent patient oriented care and we hope to help as many people as possible during this pandemic. Our hope is that a proper vaccine will be developed soon and can be available to the public as soon as possible, maybe some time in early 2021. Till then, we all have to live and practice health care with caution and with social distancing. Let's continue to remind each other how lucky we are to live in Canada, where our government is supportive and where true democracy is practiced. Stay positive and do not forget this is only temporary!
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