Covid-19: Now Scheduling Appointments & Special Setting

Now scheduling appointments in an outdoor, covered, private, open air setting. Canopy tent style, temporary space, compact yet large enough for a nice treatment space.

Outdoor Setting

Why?

• Fresh and more open airflow for Covid-19 transmission risk reduction (compared with a conventional sealed office building for example).
• Minimal contact between the house inhabitants and the client setting means keeping circles of contact more separate, again for transmission risk reduction.
• It turns out, that all things considered, feedback is that the setting is kind of awesome actually. Especially in the mornings (in the Summer). Autumn should be really nice here as well. In fact, yeah, it’s really pleasant in this early or nearly Autumn time.
• Home-location still allows for controlled-access, again to minimize risk, affordable pricing, and maximum schedule openings even while maintaining more space in between client sessions for cleaning and further risk reduction.

Outback Experience

Our backyard is pretty wild. It’s a great space. But it’s wild. Trees are much loved here. Somewhat unkempt backyard caveats:

Suburban Soundscape

Meaning, the caveats: At the noisiest: Sounds might include: From neighboring houses: various house exhaust fans, swamp coolers, HVAC units, A/C compressors, trash trucks, maybe some nearby yard maintenance or neighboring remodel construction, dogs, dudes – it’s a surprise. It’s real. So far, it’s all just fine though. Here and there. Seems quieter in nearly-Autumn.

Yet also, on the “plus” side: Birds, breeze, trees, quiet moments … and the canopy environment with light music and the work itself – generally all the external noises become less significant.

Privacy

It’s private. Between trees and sheds, and near a block wall.

Sight lines from neighboring homes have been checked and considered. The client’s privacy is protected.

Privacy curtains can be closed completely, even zipped for complete assurance. Still allowing good, fresh airflow.

Allergies, Temperatures, Cat

Allergies: Of course, as the dirt and gravel work for this was a reminder to me, if you have allergic sensitivities, you might experience reactions to the pollen or dust, depending on the circumstances. However, since we’re all wearing masks, that might naturally be a reduced concern. The exposure would only be during the duration of the session of course. And, I’ll be cleaning and dusting as usual before and after each session. The cover, curtains, and filter in the evaporative cooler also reduce the exposure. Oh, the cat: There is a cat outside, not allowed into the treatments areas; she mostly hides during the day and ought not to be a problem. If you have a severe cat allergy, please call that out on the intake form where asked, or otherwise let me know, and I’ll optimize.

Temperatures: In the Summer, especially in during a cycle of a hot spell, it can get hot, like really hot, in the later morning through the early evening. There is an oversized evaporative cooler/fan that helps. So far, as it turns out, even appointments that had to be mid-afternoon during a Summer hot spell for scheduling constraint reasons turned out just fine!

The earlier in the morning the appointment, for the Summer anyway, the better (as early as you like!). In fact, mornings are really lovely. If you don’t mind a little heat, even later mornings and, well, even in the afternoons, it’s not too bad really. I’ll wear sweat bands as needed (think 70s/80s)…

So to recap: Probably Summer best practice: Early morning appointments, if at all possible. Or just consider time of day that best suits your preferences.

Autumn: Any time will probably be just fine, per usual scheduling ranges – there will be heat on the table and a heater in the space. So far, all is working out comfortably and pleasantly.

Winter: TBD!

Potty (Restroom) and Sink

Potty: There is a camp style potty in a canopy enclosed by side curtains.

This potty has separate holding tanks for flush water and waste. It’s smaller, like you’d find in an RV or camper trailer or on a boat. Works well. Accessible. Client feedback so far: It’s all good.

PLEASE: Definitely, do what you gotta do. Take care of your needs and make yourself comfortable. We’re all professional here, and personally, among things like: (a) my first real job when I was kid: Cleaning up public restrooms and grounds during and after concerts (think mostly rock/metal concerts); (b) Diaper experience galore; (c) Plenty of experience emptying RV, camper and marine waste holding tanks into dump stations, it’s no big deal to maintain toilets, I’m plenty used to it. Plus, with the enzymatic digesters, the waste really just turns to non-descript not unpleasant liquid. This was all totally TMI, no doubt. All just to go the extra mile to say: Please, do what you gotta do. Pros, unphased by human bodily waste functions, will clean up. All good.

Also present are: sanitary paper, sanitary wipes, trash can (pedal operated), and the necessary cleaning and maintenance items (for my use between sessions).

Precautions: Masks, Hand Sanitizer, Soap, Sparse Scheduling, Water to Drink, Etc.

Masks

Following any state guidelines and/or best practice for close-quarters work, as appropriate, I’ll be wearing a mask during the treatment, and request that you do too. Some establishments allow the removal of your mask ear-straps while face down.

Hand Sanitizer & Soap

In addition to hand soap at the sink, there will be hand sanitizer too. The hand sanitizer is intended to be of quality manufacture and does not appear on the FDA list of hand sanitizers with methanol risk, see:

• https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitizers-consumers-should-not-use#products
• https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-drug-class/qa-consumers-hand-sanitizers-and-covid-19

But, if you have any doubts, feel free to bring your own hand sanitizer.

Sparse Scheduling

Another risk-reduction point is that scheduling will be sparse. Plenty of time between clients to clean and let things ‘air out’. Thanks for your patience during this time. Any urgencies or limited time availabilities will be accommodated as usual, just using prioritization rather than schedule ‘squeeze’

Water to Drink

Usually, I like to offer a glass of water if you haven’t brought your own. For this special setting, there will be bottled water, if you like, minimally handled. If any doubts, you may wish to bring your own, if you don’t usually already do so.

Etc.

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Risk Evaluation Prior to the Appointment

Please be cool and discuss honestly your covid-19 exposure risks and any symptom exposures, prior to, or at the latest, at the start of, the appointment (another great thing about the outdoor setting – we can debrief up to the latest moment without intermingling spaces, door knobs, etc.). I will too. Examples, regarding Covid-19:

• What symptoms, if any, have you experienced personally?
• Have you been in contact with any others who have experienced symptoms?
• In addition to relevant symptoms, what irrelevant symptoms have you experienced?
• What are your exposure risks in your daily life? Work environment? Home companion/spouse/partner? Children (playdates, school)?
• How are you feeling right now?
• Have you or anyone with whom you’ve been in contact traveled within the past 14 days?

Session intake generally includes plenty of how are you feeling today anyway. Further, I’ll loosely consider both of us to be transmission risks, to encourage myself to be extra safe.

Scheduling Appointments

We can schedule by text message or voice as usual. Details about availability and the price matrix by text too. Note above, the consideration for morning appointments during the hot season. Morning actually and generally works well in this region too even for Fall and Spring outdoor appointments, since the winds and subsequent dust ramp up anyway as the sun heats things up.

What To Expect & The First Appointment

You can expect that whatever changes you request are always welcome for discussion. Anything that doesn’t make you comfortable, just say so, and we’ll fix it. You can expect professional treatment, NM state-licensed LMT guidelines governing the session, and you can expect me to ask, initially frequently, how the work is going for you. Communication during the session, especially the first session(s), is really important for success. And the first session often takes a bit longer to step through a good intake process, and still allow the right amount of time on the table. More on this topic will be posted elsewhere. It’s worth mentioning this all again here though.

Logistics: Parking, Arrival, Duration, Pricing, Payment Methods, Schedule Adjustments, Cancellations

Parking: Driveway is available for parking if you like; on the Left hand side. You are welcome even to park off to the left of the driveway on the railties/dirt/gravel if you like.

Arrival: Feel free to arrive a few minutes early. If I’m not already coming out to meet you at the driveway, feel free to call/text me to let me know you’re there. If you’re running really early, that can work too, just text/call.

Duration/Scheduling: Usually, the pricing and scheduling matrix covers that actual time of the work “on the table”. But I’ll check with you about your scheduling needs. So, that means that, if you have the time for it, appointments will probably go longer than the priced duration. Like an hour appointment might actually go from 10am to 11:15am, depending on things like: arrival time, how much there is to discuss before the appointment (plenty of time for an intake is a good thing), restroom breaks during or after, etc. Generally, I like to allow some fluidity. If there is one thing that 2 extra minutes will help take care of to make the most out of both of our efforts to meet for that session, that time, in my humble opinion and preference is well worth it. So, scheduling on my end often allows for this flexibility, whenever possible. But, we can stick to the strict schedule framework too. If you have a tight time schedule and need to be out at the end of the hour or whatever the time block is, no problem at all, we’ll make that happen.

Pricing: Please see: https://smsomatics.com/faq-what-is-the-pricing/

Payment: Please see: https://smsomatics.com/faq-how-do-i-pay/

Schedule Changes, Cancellations: Please see: https://smsomatics.com/faq-whats-your-cancellation-schedule-change-policy/

Flexibility

Yep, generally though, will stay extra flexible at these times (though in general I try too anyway) if anything about the setting doesn’t work for you. Feedback so far is that it’s great, but hey, we’re all different, and a little more at the mercy of the elements and serendipity or random nature of timing too.

Risk Bottom Line

Just as in the health intake and consent to treatment form, there is always risk. Please know this. And choose the path that best fits your needs. Stay in communication. About your needs, what works, what doesn’t. And, sincerely, thank you.