Livewells response to COVID-19

There has been a lot of questions as to whether Livewell will continue to see clients as reports of quarantines and social distancing is being strongly suggested by local governmental agencies. And the answer is YES, Livewell will continue to be open to seeing clients as long as we are not mandated to close by our local and state government.

As a healthcare provider we fall under healthcare operations and we are deemed an essential business, and we will remain open to new and current clients.

Understand that we are not taking this issue lightly. We want to be able to provide a safe space for clients to process their fear and anxiety about COVID-19 in these unprecedented times, but we also want to make sure that staff and the families that we are treating are safe as well. Here are the precautions that Livewell has put into place to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for all of us.

Front office staff will be asking every client if they are exhibiting any symptoms such as coughs, colds, sneezing, sore throats, etc. If a client is exhibiting any of these symptoms their appointment will be cancelled and they will be rescheduled for the following week or until they are asymptomatic (no symptoms).

Everyone will have their temperature taken upon arrival.

Front office staff will also be sanitizing the waiting area as well as every office twice daily and as necessary with antibacterial cleaning solutions.

For those whose children are being seen by a therapist at Livewell, each child will be required to wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer before each session. No exceptions.

We will also offer teletherapy as an option for clients who may prefer this type of service as we practice social distancing. For clients who are interested in teletherapy, Livewell will use Zoom as our telehealth platform, which are free, HIPAA compliant telemedicine solutions that can be used in lieu of face-to-face. We can provide this service to clients from anywhere – home, school, or office. However, the clients environment has to be free from distractions to maintain confidentiality. Clients can use their phones, computers, or laptops. The only requirement to participate in teletherapy is a teletherapy Consent to Treat form which will be can be sent to clients electronically. If you have any additional questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact Livewell’s Administration at 559.554.9710. We tend to have a high number of calls, so please leave a message and we will contact you within 24 hours. If you have an urgent matter, please email us at info@livewellbhc.com.

What is Teletherapy?

Teletherapy is delivering online professional services by linking a provider to a client through telecommunication technology, often from a distance.

How does Teletherapy work?

Through a secure platform, therapist link clients via an internet connection, web portal, and two-way live video. Through the platform, the client can interact with therapist just as he/she would if it was an in-person session.

Does it have the same impact as traditional face-to-face therapy?

Luckily, there has been a lot of research on teletherapy as it continues to grow as a service delivery model. Research has found very few differences between teletherapy and traditional in-person therapy!

Is it a secure network?

Yes. The Zoom platform uses a secure platform that is compliant with HIPAA regulations.