COCHRANE— The provincial government has officially taken the first steps of the Alberta Relaunch Strategy.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced that some health care services in the province could begin the process of cautious and responsible re-opening on Thursday (April 30).
Dentists and other regulated health care workers such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, respiratory therapists, social workers, optometrists and others were be allowed to resume services starting May 4, Kenney said, as long as they are following approved guidelines set by their professional colleges.
Bow River Chiropractic Clinic doctor Andrew Janzen said the clinic was able to open their doors on Monday (May 4).
“It was great, it was nice to finally be able to get back to work,” Janzen said. “It’s definitely a different practice environment.”
Bow River Chiropractic Clinic and the Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors have been planning for re-opening for the last month he said, but they were still a “little caught off guard” with how quickly they were able to open after the Alberta Relaunch Strategy was announced.
The guidance the clinic is receiving from the Association of Chiropractors has been great he said explaining that they have received a return to practice action plan approved by Alberta Public Health that allowed them to re-open.
Janzen said the focus of re-opening has been ensuring the safety of patients and workers.
It will be a new experience for patients he said explaining that they are taking all precautions necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 with an emphasis on ensuring social distancing is practiced.
Appointments at the clinic have been spread out to allow for disinfecting surfaces between patients and only one person is allowed in the clinic at a time.
Patients will be required to participate in a phone screening before arriving at the clinic and will also go through a COVID-19 screening when they arrive at the clinic.
Janzen added that practitioners will be wearing masks and gloves when working with patients.
It has been a relief to have their doors open again he added because there are many people in the community are in need of treatment.
“Our association has been great with working with Alberta Health to make everything safe for us to return to practice,” Janzen said. “We’re doing everything we can to make it a safe environment.”
Cochrane Dental owner and dentist Dean DeBiasio said preparing to open the clinic has been a fluid process that has centred on ensuring the safety of patients.
It was positive to hear Kenney's announcement he said but cautioned that it will take time and work to see a return to a semblance of normalcy.
“It something none of us have ever gone through before,” DeBiasio said. “We had to shut down— now a month and a half later it's nice… to start talking about maybe being able to open up.”
The government has given the go ahead for dentists to open but the Alberta Dental Association and College will be setting the health guidelines for clinics with approval from Public Health.
The clinic has been preparing to re-open DeBiasio said, adding that it will be a carefully staged and responsible process.
“We knew going in, it was going to be a phased approach,” he said. “It’s a responsible and safe way to start opening again.”
As provincial public health measures are lifted the clinic will gradually begin to offer procedures. The goal he said is to ensure the safety of patients and the workplace as they gradually re-open.
As of now, dentists can begin seeing patients with emergency or urgent needs, DeBiasio said, adding that dentists have been able to see patients over the past month in emergencies.
DeBiasio said the relaunch will be an evolving process centred on the safety of patients. Each phase will be assessed and dentists will move forward from there with guidance from the Dental Association and the province.
“It’s a positive that we’re starting to talk about opening up but there are still some guidelines we’re working through,” DeBiasio said. “We don’t have a firm date set yet, but we’re moving towards it.”
