Update: 03/05/2022

Since the pandemic began, Harmony Chiropractic Center has followed the science associated with preventing the spread of COVID and has tried to go above and beyond to keep our patients and staff safe. We have required all staff and patients to be masked within our office since the pandemic began. Even in the summer of 2021 when new case numbers were low and vaccinations were available to adults, we were masking in the office to protect our younger patients and our family members who were not yet able to be vaccinated. We never liked it, but we knew it was for the best.

The science, guidelines and the availability of vaccines and treatments has evolved, and we are in a much different place now. A large percentage of the population is vaccinated and while we have new variants, they appear to be less deadly, which science shows is the trend as diseases shift from being epidemic to pandemic to endemic. The number of new cases per 100,000 people continues to drop.  In Sylvania, the current metric is 52.7 per 100k and 53.5 per 100k in Lucas County at the time of this writing.

With all of this in mind, Harmony Chiropractic Center will make masks optional for the office, except in the massage room, starting on Monday 03/07/2022. A few things about this new policy.

• If you have been around someone who is sick or does not feel well, we ask that you wear a mask during your visit to keep us safe.
• If you are experiencing any symptoms, we ask that you use good judgement to not risk exposing our patients and staff. We are grateful for how mindful our patients have been about rescheduling appointments when appropriate.  Call the office with questions and we can talk it through.
• If you would prefer Dr. Royer and our staff wear a mask when you are in the office, we are happy to do so, just ask. If special accommodations are needed due to concerns regarding patients with immune compromise, please contact us and we will work with you.
• Due to the closeness and amount of time in a small space, we are still requiring masks to be worn during massages.
• If you have any questions regarding this change to our mask policy, please feel free to ask.

Update: 05/15/2021

In the past week, Gov. DeWine announced the lifting of mask requirements for everyone in the state of Ohio beginning June 1, 2021, but made it clear that businesses may still mandate the use of masks. The next day, the CDC announced to easing of restrictions regarding masks and those individuals who are vaccinated while in public. The new recommendations released by the CDC do not pertain to healthcare facilities and it is still recommended that all individuals wear facial coverings during appointments and continue to encourage physical distancing.

So as I said in my last update, we will continue to require our staff and patients to wear facial coverings in the office. I know that many will not like it it, but our patients can still be masked while in public areas of our office and while in proximity to staff for the duration of their appointment. We have all been doing it for over a year now. Let’s be clear though, I don’t like it any better than you, but it is the best thing to prevent the spread of the virus. No one wants to stay masked forever but it is a small thing to do to try to get back to normal. I am also not going to collect vaccine cards and remember who got vaccinated and who didn’t from visit to visit. 

I usually get a few mild colds per year that cause me to get congested, have a runny nose or an occasional sore throat because patients will be sick and breath right in my face. I dose up with my Vitamin D and Echinacea when I do. But I have not gotten a cold this year. Same reason that the levels of people having the flu died off in the past year. Masks and social distancing. I think that it is interesting that you have not really heard much about many mass shootings in the past year either. I wonder if it has to do with social distancing and people not going into work or the news cycle was only focused on COVID.

Just before Thanksgiving, my wife was exposed to COVID-19 by her massage therapist (who she has been seeing for years). She had an hour massage and the massage therapist developed symptoms later that night. She tested positive for COVID and informed her clients immediately as she should have (since she is an awesome person in everyway). Since it was over an extended winter break for the kids, I stayed away from my wife and kids until the 2 weeks were over so I would be able to still work but not risk any of my patients. That was a hard 2 weeks for my wife without any help and cooped up kids. It meant eating Thanksgiving dinner separated from my family, only seeing them over FaceTime. That was hard. Despite my wife being in the room for an hour with a infected individual breathing over her, she didn’t get infected because they were both wearing masks. Don’t try to tell me that they don’t work.

On another note, I am not looking to get into conversations about vaccines either since it is not anything we are going to resolve in the time that we have together. I got vaccinated for COVID-19 and I encourage people to do so as well.

I feel I am in a unique position. Besides my Doctor of Chiropractic degree, I have two Bachelors of Science in Biology and I teach at Owens Community College. I have lectured on General Biology, Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology, as well as teaching labs there. I have taught students how to run an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay), which is the same type of procedure as the good test for COVID infection. So I understand a lot about this stuff. Way more than the average person. But I am not an expert. I am not a specialist in infectious disease, or PhD dedicating my life to studying immunology or molecular biology, but I have learned from such people. They have been my teachers. I understand how proteins fold and how the spike proteins can be made by this vaccine but I am not an epidemiologist. 

With all that being said, I don’t like some vaccines. I don’t talk about this with my patients usually because I also don’t think that you should get this advice from your chiropractor. I don’t really think that is something I should talk about with patients. I do think that there is a lack of good quality unbiased information on vaccines. Anti-vax leaders and organization perpetuate lies and horrible science. For example, there is more formaldehyde in an apple than any vaccine you might get. I agree that drug companies and some healthcare providers are incentivized to have as many people vaccinated for a myriad of conditions, but these people are not going to get rich off of vaccines. I’d be more concerned about statin drugs and proton pump inhibitors than vaccines, but that is a completely different discussion.

This went a little longer than I’d like but I think it is appropriate. 

Update: 04/20/2021

This has obviously been a wild ride and we are trying to use this page to keep everyone updated on our policies in the office regarded COVID-19 . Our priority is the health and safety of our patients so we will be following local, state and federal guidelines to the strictest level of the three. This means that if/when the state of Ohio decides that properly wearing masks is not necessary when in close contact with others, we will still require it to be treated in our office as long as the CDC still recommends it.

On the other hand, we will be slightly relaxing our cleaning and disinfecting practices as we have been disinfecting between every patient surface contact. That means the staff has been disinfecting the treatment tables and surfaces between each patient contact since the pandemic started. According to the CDC Guidelines on “Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility” and “Healthcare Facilities: Managing Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic” , this is not necessary at this time. We will still be cleaning and disinfecting frequently, but not after every patient. We will however clean and disinfect a treatment surface if it is requested.

Original Post: April 29, 2020 – Updated August 10, 2020

We hope that you are continuing to stay healthy and safe during this time and want to give you a quick update. The office has been open throughout the pandemic serving  the community. Initially, we reduced our capacity and made it a priority to see more acute and painful cases. When Ohio re-opened, we went back to seeing all patients for all complaints. We still keep appointments and our patients spread out to keep everyone safer and we will keep patients separated while in the office. We have been and will continue to be vigilant in our cleaning and disinfecting as things begin to open in Ohio this month. Our staff has been wearing masks since the re-opening to keep you safe.

As of today, Lucas County was moved to the Public Emergency Level 3 (Red) Status. We are requiring all patients to wear a mask during their appointments to help keep all of us safe. Massage therapy patients will continue to be required to wear masks as well. 

Guidelines for Level 1 includes:

• Conduct a daily health/symptom self-evaluation and stay at home if symptomatic.
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from non-household members.
• Wear face coverings in public, especially when social distancing is difficult to maintain.
• Increase caution when interacting with others not practicing social distancing or wearing face covers.
• Avoid traveling to high-risk areas.
• Follow good hygiene standards, including:
  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Use hand sanitizer frequently.
  • Avoid touching your face.
  • Cover coughs or sneezes (e.g., into a tissue, or elbow).
  • Symptom self-evaluation monitoring

Guidelines for Level 2 (Orange) adds the following:

• Avoid contact with anyone who is considered high-risk.
• High-risk individuals* should take extra care to follow precautions.
• Decrease in-person interactions outside household.
• Seek medical care as needed, but limit or avoid unnecessary visits to hospitals, nursing homes, and residential care facilities to see others as much as possible.

Guidelines for Level 3 (Red) adds the following:

• Decrease in-person interactions with others.
• Consider necessary travel only.
• Limit attending gatherings of any number.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we vigilantly implemented enhanced protocols to ensure your safety. The office and all our staff takes this issue seriously. Our focus is to ensure we meet patient needs while doing our part to keep you, our employees, and our community safe. 

As essential workers, we will remain open during any upcoming closures as long as we are able. The medical community is taxed with the current situation and despite this fact, people’s pain is not going to go away. Treating people who are suffering from aches and pains not caused by infections and getting them better will help ease the burden on the system. This allows our medical colleagues to focus on the patients who cannot be helped as easily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have always taken pride in our clean and well-run office, and we know that cleanliness is more important than ever right now. We are closely following the guidance of the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control regarding the spread of the virus.

 

Here’s what we’re doing to prevent the spread of Coronavirus:

• We are cleaning our office continuously throughout each day, focusing especially on high-touch and highly trafficked surfaces like door handles, checkout counters, treatment tables, bathroom surfaces, rehab area/equipment, keyboards, and treatment tools.
• Patient treatment surfaces are wiped down between each patient with medical grade disinfectant wipes.
• Employees will be washing hands between each patient interaction.
• Wipes will be up front for patients to use as well as the always available soap in the bathroom
• Employees will wear a mask at all times when in the presence of patients.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are asking that if you or someone you have been in contact with has traveled internationally, has visited a designated Coronavirus “hotspot” within the last 14 days, or if you are exhibiting any of the below symptoms, which are common with Coronavirus:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Currently have a fever or have had a fever within the last 5 days.
• Currently experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, sore throat or ears, body aches, joint pain, vomiting or diarrhea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please contact your primary care physician, urgent care center or local government hotline to report that you may need to be tested for COVID-19. Then, please call our office to cancel or reschedule your appointments. Our patients may be screened for these problems and refused service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additionally – If you have been diagnosed with Coronavirus (COVID-19), Influenza (Flu type A or B) and have visited our office within the last 14 days, please notify us immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have an existing appointment, we look forward to seeing you and want to reassure you that we are doing everything we can to promote a safe and secure experience.  If you need to change or cancel an appointment regardless if you are sick or not, you can do so without incurring any fees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please be aware that we cannot guarantee that you are protected from the virus if you are coming into our office because of the number of people who can spread the disease while they are asymptomatic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For those with school children who are spending time at home due to the Coronavirus, they will be welcome in the office as long as they do have have the symptoms mentioned above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below are some idea for what you can do with your kids with all of your new found time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 150+ Enrichment Activities for Children While Parents are Working Remotely
• COVID-19 Camp
• List of Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions due to School Closings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From a nutritional standpoint, eating well will help to protect you to a degree. There are obviously no guarantees with Coronavirus, but improving nutrition could reduce the severity of your disease. Consider the following blog post:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Chronic Inflammation: Foods to Avoid and Anti-Inflammatory Foods
• Vitamin D Deficiency
• What are the Best Daily Supplements for Health?
• Are Grains Good for You?