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  • Board of Registration of Chiropractors
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News  Policy Statement on Following Enhanced Protective Protocols during an Infectious Pandemic Public Health Emergency

The Massachusetts Board of registration of Chiropractors (Board) has adopted the following Policy Statement.
4/10/2020
  • Board of Registration of Chiropractors

A Board policy does not have the force or effect of law, as would a Massachusetts General Law or board rule or regulation. The Board utilizes this policy and other guidelines as an internal management tool in formulating decisions that relate to issues of chiropractic practice.

Introduction:
On March 10, 2020 Governor Baker declared a State of Emergency to the COVID-19 world pandemic. Governor Baker issued a March 15, 2020 Order that limits gatherings of people outside of their private homes throughout the Commonwealth. The same day, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued a Guidance document which clarified that the Order would not apply to normal operations at medical facilities.

On March 23, 2020 Governor Baker amended his prior Order to restrict gatherings even further and ordered the closure of businesses that are not deemed COVID-19 Essential Services. Medical professionals and caregivers such as physicians, therapists, social workers, technologists, personal care attendants and home health aides are allowed to continue to provide needed and important health services as a category of COVID-19 Essential Services.

Policy Statement:
The Board believes that all Massachusetts chiropractic physicians should update their practice procedures and office protocols to best protect their patients, themselves and their local communities from the clinical and societal risks posed during an infectious pandemic public health emergency.

Massachusetts chiropractic physicians should follow the appropriate clinical guides issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health relative to delivering health care/chiropractic services within the Commonwealth.

All Massachusetts chiropractic physicians should limit their physical interaction with a patient to acute or worsening situation that necessitate timely intervention. All non-essential, elective or maintenance care should be postponed. Patient care deemed non-essential, elective or maintenance can be delayed or reduced without an anticipated decline in patient health and outcomes, such a delay or reduction should be considered.

All patients presenting for care should be appropriately screened to assess the possibility of COVID-19 infection. If you suspect active COVID-19 infection, that patient should be immediately referred out go your office to their PCP or other appropriate medical provider based on their presenting symptoms. Pertinent objective information from this assessment must be documented in the patients chart.

 

  • Board of Registration of Chiropractors 

    The Board of Registration of Chiropractors regulates the practice of chiropractic in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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