IS GEAUX PLAY! GOING TO STAY OPEN?

YES! We do believe that therapy services provided by Geaux Play! are medically necessary for your child and will continue face-to-face encounters as long as possible.  We are healthcare professionals and as such are required to adhere to best practice recommendations from our licensing boards and local/national governing agencies. 

We are constantly reviewing the situation and closely monitoring the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for healthcare best practices. 

Sick Policy has been expanded to include the following based on LDH and CDC recommendations. Face-to-Face clinic visits will be suspended in instances where child/therapist exhibit any of the following conditions:

• Fever >100.0
• Cough
• Malaise/Body ache
• Sore Throat
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea/Diarrhea

We ask for your complete honestly and earnest adherence in this area.  Our staff will strictly adhere to this as well.  Criteria for return to clinic visits will be based on LDH and CDC recommendations for that given moment in time. 

Standard Precautions, have always been and will continue to be implemented at all times in clinic.

• Hand Hygiene
• Use of Personal Protective Equipment whenever there is expectation of possible exposure to infectious material (bodily fluid, mucus membranes, non-intact skin).
• Respiratory/cough hygiene
• Proper management/cleaning of patient care equipment/instruments & clean/disinfect environment appropriately.

“Standard Precautions should be followed when caring for any patient, regardless of suspected or confirmed COVID-19. If the patient is afebrile (temperature is less than 100.0^oF) and otherwise without even mild symptoms* that might be consistent with COVID-19 (e.g., cough, sore throat, shortness of breath), then precautions specific to COVID-19 are not required.” – CDC website as of 3/14/2020

Changes to Daily Operations

• Therapists will check their temps prior to seeing patients at the beginning of the day.
• If at any point during a therapy session, a child/therapist demonstrates symptoms – session will be discontinued and child/family/therapist will promptly exit the facility. Cleaning/Disinfecting will be performed per current recommendations of LDH and CDC. 
• Some materials and equipment (which are not able to be easily/quickly disinfected) have been removed from treatment rooms and space. 
• Soft surfaces (books/magazines) have been removed from waiting area.  The playroom in the waiting area has closed and will remain closed at this time.
• Supplies for respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette and hand hygiene are available: tissues, no touch receptacles for disposal and 60% or greater alcohol-based hand sanitizer.  Please note that hand washing is still the preferred hand hygiene method.
• Sessions will have 5-10 min spacing to allow child/family to exit building prior to next child/family coming into the building (social distancing) and to allow for increased sanitizing of equipment, surfaces, and treatment space between sessions.  Please feel free to wait in your car rather than waiting area in order to aide in social distancing. If you choose to use waiting area, please attempt to maintain appropriate social distance (6’) between yourself and others.
• Only caregiver and child (no siblings) will be allowed to participate in sessions.  
• Handwashing immediately upon entering building and following therapy sessions will be required.
• Outdoor sessions will be implemented with increased frequency with caregiver consent.  
• For our feeding therapy clients, we ask that families provide their own food if they are able.
• Teletherapy options are available as well in cases where high-risk children/families are involved and per caregiver request.  At this time, in-clinic sessions are generally recommended over teletherapy but this could change based on CDC and LDH recommendations. 
• Daily monitoring of LDH and CDC recommendations regarding best practice for our daily operations. 

Whew!! Now, let’s take a DEEP BREATH!

via GIPHY

And remember the power of play and why we should all reserve time to #GEAUXPLAY!

1. Play relieves stress and forms bonds between its participants.
2. Play builds resilience.
3. Play helps us consolidate learning and build skills.
4. Play promotes self-exploration.
5. Play is FUN!
6. Play is for everyone – regardless of age or physical ability.

Geaux Play! recommends the following for children and families amid the CoVid-19 pandemic:

1. Get outside! – go for walks, swing, ride bikes, play ball, picnic with family.
2. Wash hands often and practice respiratory hygiene (we love the “dab” approach!)
3. Limit children’s exposure to media frenzy. Check out this social story about CoVid-19 for children: https://660919d3-b85b-43c3-a3ad-3de6a9d37099.filesusr.com/ugd/64c685_319c5acf38d34604b537ac9fae37fc80.pdf .
4. Ask us about our recommendations for online activities and home ideas for sensory play, movement, learning, and language.
5. Check out free resources such as https://www.twinkl.com/offer and enter code PARENTSTWINKLHELPS; https://www.kidsmasterskills.com/ and click on Free Take-Home Packets; and https://www.speechandlanguagekids.com/free-materials/

We’re all in this together….This is the ultimate reminder that we are inextricably connected to each other…

Brene Brown