• 2020-12 Update: Gov Inslee’s Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan: “To curtail the spread of the COVID- 19 pandemic in Washington State and to protect our health care workers as they provide health care services, it is necessary to prohibit all medical, dental and dental specialty facilities, practices, and practitioners in Washington State from providing non-urgent health care and dental services, procedures and surgeries unless specific procedures and criteria are met.“
• 2020 June 9: UPDATE from Seattle King County.
• 2020 April 6: UPDATE: COVID-19 Health Alert for Acupuncturists and Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Practitioners (AEMP) from WA State Dept of Health
Acupuncturists and AEMPs should be aware that there is:
Widespread person-to-person transmission of COVID-19 in Washington state. People with COVID-19 can spread the illness even when they feel or look well.
High risk of severe COVID-19 illness in persons older than 60 years.
High risk of severe COVID-19 illness in persons with underlying health conditions.
No method to completely remove the risk of person-to-person transmission of COVID-19 in an in-person care setting.
Governor Inslee’s proclamation 20-25 allows health care providers to continue to provide essential health services. To control the spread of COVID-19, in-person treatment should be limited to patients with a clear and documentable urgent medical need. Practitioners should also consider if services can be appropriately provided via telehealth. Some in-person services are non-essential and should not be provided. No in-person appointment is risk-free, even if both patient and practitioner appear well. Practitioners should weigh their own risk and comfort level when deciding whether to continue in-person visits.
Actions requested:
Only provide acupuncture or East Asian medicine services for urgent medical issues, such as pain control.
Cancel acupuncture and East Asian medicine appointments for non-urgent medical issues.
When treatment is medically necessary, screen the patient for symptoms of respiratory illness (e.g., fever, cough, difficulty breathing) before they enter your practice. If a patient has respiratory symptoms, do not provide treatment. Instead, refer the patient to their primary care provider.
Ensure appropriate social distancing of six feet between patients in waiting rooms and other areas of the facility.
Closely follow CDC guidelines for hand hygiene and clean equipment and facilities between patients.
Remind sick employees to stay home. Do not require them to work.
Consider wearing a face mask or cloth face covering when providing in-person services and when within six feet of another person. Provide face covers and request use by clients when close proximity is necessary.
Background:
The virus causing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), emerged in December 2019 and has since spread around the world causing a global pandemic. Eighty percent of cases are mild, but severe disease and deaths are more common in the elderly (older than 60 years) and in those with underlying health conditions. Health experts are concerned that increasing transmission in our state and an increase in severe disease will limit the ability of our healthcare system to provide urgent care to all who require it.
Additional resources for Acupuncturists or Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Practitioners:
DOH Workplace Recommendations DOH Coronavirus (COVID-19) Web Page
CDC Coronavirus (COVID-19) Web Page CDC Practice Preparedness Resources
To request this document in another format, call 1-800-525-0127. Deaf or hard of hearing customers, please call 711 (Washington Relay) or email civil.rights@doh.wa.gov.