A Thorold physiotherapist refused to leave her clients hanging, despite the pandemic.
Over the last months, Grace McAlear-Marjerrison of Thorold Physiotherapy has managed to welcome around 100 clients per month to her virtual clinic as she guides them through internal rotations, hip extensions and joint mobilization exercises.
“At first we were hopeful that it would only be a few weeks before we could get back to in-person business, but when it became apparent that it would go on for a while, we shifted to a virtual care system,” she tells Thorold News.
Along with a part-time colleague, she has seen several patients regain mobility and decrease pain through her sessions.
She gives the credit to her patients, who have adapted well to the new system.
“People have really bought into the fact that they have to do their home exercises. I think this has built a bit more confidence in my patients. Many are people I have seen in-person before all of this. I knew where they were at and what was going on and could continue the work we started.”
But some brand new transformations have materialized over the course of her virtual venture.
“One patient had severe neck pain and couldn’t continue her work assisting essential workers. We managed to get her symptoms under control in just a few weeks.”
With the revenue of her clinic taking a hit, dramatically decreasing the number of clients, she is now eagerly awaiting word from the College of Physiotherapists that is expected to issue a go-ahead for reopening in the next few days.
However, it won’t be summer as usual.
The clinic is working out details on how to best provide a safe environment with PPE for both clients and staff, distancing and screening protocols as well as only having one client in the clinic per time.
The experience has landed the clinic the experience with providing virtual care, which McAlear says will continue, even after the re-opening.
“It has been tricky, but it has been good.”
Do you know an essential worker that should be highlighted in Thorold News? Send your submissions with contact information to [email protected]
