Just because there is the added health risk of COVID-19 in our lives, it doesn’t mean that your back pain will magically go away. People still require spine treatment, physical therapy, and other solutions for neck and spine pain. Center for Spine Care has served the DFW community for over 20 years, and we will remain open despite the present risks. In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, our spine doctors and the rest of our staff will continue to offer our services. In response to the crisis, our office hours have been modified and we have implemented ramped-up disinfection protocols, along with other changes.
Essential Information for Our Patients at a Glance
Our office remains open so we can continue serving the needs of our patients. We have taken the following measures to optimize the health and safety of our patients, staff, and the community:
- The day before an office visit, all patients will be screened over the phone
- All patients will be screened upon arrival
- We have modified our hours of operation
- We have reduced the number of patients we treat in the facility at any given time
- We have implemented a robust disinfection protocol of the lobby and patient areas throughout the day
- Virtual visits will become available in the coming days
We are quickly working to develop alternative ways to remain in contact and care for all of our patients. For more information, call us at 214-378-7200 or reach out to us online.
Health-First Reminders
As a reminder, follow these guidelines to fight off and reduce the spread of germs (including the coronavirus):
- Stay home/reschedule your visit if you are sick
- Practice social distancing
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds regularly
- Use hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol content regularly
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects regularly
Understanding COVID-19
We all understand that COVID-19 poses an imminent threat to life as we normally experience it, as it has already transformed a number of aspects of our regular, everyday experience — from avoiding other people and avoiding touching our faces to a more immediate awareness of humanity’s relative fragility in the face of the unexpected forces of nature. This is the case not just in one location either, but also a transformation that is happening around the entire world. Coronavirus has already changed the fundamental ways we interact with one another for the indefinite future, and, for one thing, it is showing just how vital online communication is as a fallback in times of crisis.
In particular, people with spine problems could be at greater risk if they are immune-compromised. For people suffering from back pain or other spinal issues, living in isolation can be difficult. The Center for Spine Care in Dallas is committed to helping you work through these challenging times.
Yes, the coronavirus is a threat. However, panic is not the proper way to confront a real threat. Think about how absurd the excessive buying of toilet paper is — as if having enough toilet paper would matter in the middle of an epidemic. What would be an appropriate reaction to the coronavirus epidemic, though? What would constitute a serious response to it?
Perhaps what is called for is a transformation in how we approach our basic orientation to life. As Elisabeth Kübler-Ross who, in her book “On Death and Dying” wrote (to paraphrase): there are five stages of how we act when we have a terminal illness:
- Denial — “This isn’t happening to me.”
- Anger — “How can this happen to me!”
- Bargaining — “Just let me live to see XYZ”
- Depression — “I’m going to die, why bother fighting.”
- Acceptance — “I can’t fight, I might as well prepare for it.”
One can find a similar process at work when there is a global trauma like ecological catastrophe or an epidemic. The final result of “acceptance” doesn’t have to be passive though. It can involve active mobilization without panic or illusions to commit to work together better (like the relations between your spine’s vertebrates — independent, but functioning at their best when working together). Having worked with patients suffering from back pain and other spinal issues, we have seen first hand how big challenges can lead to amazing growth, with patients coming out all the stronger on the other side.
In the face of this new form of the flu, we here at the Center for Spine Care in Dallas are committed to continue providing the same high-quality spine treatment services we always have, but with an added bit of caution and extra planning to help ensure all our patients remain safe. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment (which, in some cases, will soon be available through telecommunication) feel free to reach out to us during our new business hours.
