***updated below, as of 5-26-2020***
Some practitioners have decided to reopen their practices. You might be one of them. While I am not about to judge your decision (each professional has unique and various circumstances to personally consider), I do hope you are taking the process of reopening your practice very seriously.
Get Your Plan Together
Get your reopening plan together, because soon enough massage businesses everywhere will be struggling to keep up with the demand for healthy, safe, therapeutic touch. Here are some helpful resources as you develop your plan.
- ABMP’s Back to Practice Summary
- AMTA’s Reopening Resources
- Healwell’s Back to Practice Videos
- Diana Thompson’s COVID Intake Form (.docx file)
- Massage Mastery Online’s digital textbook, Preventing Disease Transmission in a Massage Practice by Anne Williams and Eric Brown
- Massage Magazine article, 17 CDC Safety & Sanitation Guidelines for Massage Therapists Considering Re-Opening a Practice
- FSMTB’s recommendations, Guidelines for Practice with COVID-19 Considerations
If you have decided not to reopen just yet, there are still many things you can be doing at this time to work on your business. Read our last blog post for suggestions from Cherie.
5-14-2020 Update: Cemetria Hayes McMullen, L.M.T., Owner of Sage Massage Studio in Dallas has graciously offered to share her COVID Intake Form (.docx file) as well. Thank you, Cemetria!
5-19-2020 Update: Added the Massage Magazine article above.
5-20-2020 Update: Added the FSMTB guidelines above.
5-26-2020 Update: Resources for Reopening Your School blog posted.
I am a massage instructor in Austin Texas. There has been so much information out there about how to re-open your practice safely, but I have seen no information out there about how to reopen your school safely and how to do internship protocol for students and internship clients.
It’s true, Diane. We are trying to gather information regarding reopening schools now. We do plan to share as soon as we can.
I was reading the FSMTB Guidelines yesterday and there is a hygiene section for schools, including school cleanliness,disinfection and disease prevention,classroom policies and procedures, and COVID19 training. (fsmtb.org)
Thank you Deanna for your non judgment and support of those who have opened or are thinking about opening.
Thanks, Cindy. These decisions are very difficult, and none of us can make them for each other. I just hope folks stay up-to-date on rapidly changing information, and be ready to change their mind or their plan when/if necessary. I wish you (and everyone) the best!
This is a GREAT Resource, so THANK YOU very much! I have been trying to follow various sites/facebook posts and this appears to me to be the most comprehensive. I am sure more questions will arise as we progress through the next 2- 6 months. Another situation I would appreciate some “advice/suggestions” though I probably know in my own conscious the answers, but dealings when working within a chiropractic office… I am an independent contractor and rent space. My concern is if they do not comply with certain “expected” precautions like not wearing face masks. Everything else seems to be fine….I don’t want to wear one and know it’s not an end-all to prevention. I guess I am just concerned if someone complains and the health department comes to “assess” the clinic… that I will be reprimanded as well. Thoughts, anyone??
Thank you for your comments, Dee. I highly recommend you follow the recommended guidelines for your area, and ask your clients to do so as well. I’m not sure that you can control what the other staff are doing in the clinic, as they are not your employees, but you should certainly take that into consideration regarding your own safety and the safety of your clients. I would personally find it very difficult to decide to re-open my practice, if I did not have total control over the hygiene and safety precautions of my environment. I wish you the best of luck!