COVID, Illness, and Masking Policy

Be Well Holistic Health acknowledges that the global COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing, mass-disabling event. Our clinic is committed to disability justice and accessibility for all — we follow steps to protect our patients, providers, and community, many of whom are disabled, chronically ill, immunocompromised, or otherwise high-risk.

Masking in the Clinic

Be Well maintains a layered mitigation approach that includes high-quality masking during patient care.

Providers may wear KN95 (or equivalent high-filtration) masks during direct patient care inside our Be Well operated clinic at 2410 SE 10th Ave. Portland OR 97214.

Patients are required to wear a mask in common areas of the clinic. We encourage patients and providers to wear high-filtration masks such as KN94s, KN95s, or N95s whenever possible.

If you would like your provider to wear a specific high-filtration mask, please ask.

Since masks can be expensive, we provide free surgical and high-filtration masks at our clinics. While surgical masks are permitted for patients, they offer more limited protection compared to KN94s, KN95s, and N95s.1

For transparency – staff may be unmasked when alone in private spaces or treatment rooms. For this reason, we do not represent our clinic as “universally masked at all times.” We believe transparency is part of informed consent.

Mask requirements at satellite Be Well locations are determined by the provider practicing at that site. Providers at satellite locations may wear a mask during treatment upon request.

Air Quality & Layered Protection

Reducing the spread of COVID requires a multi-layered approach — masking is one layer. 

Our clinics are equipped with 0.1 micron HEPA air purifiers in each treatment room, designed to rapidly cycle and clean the air. Treatment rooms are sanitized after each use, and hand sanitizer/washing stations are readily available.

If a previous patient or provider wore a surgical mask or was unmasked alone in a treatment room (for example, while charting), we allow time for air turnover before the next appointment when needed.

If you would prefer additional air clearance time before entering a room, you may request to wait approximately 10–15 minutes.

For patients seeking the lowest possible exposure risk, we recommend scheduling the first appointment of the day.

If You Are Sick or Test Positive

Protect our community by staying home if you are ill, whether or not you have COVID or another acute illness, or have a known exposure. Asymptomatic cases may account for over 50% of infections.2  

If you test positive for COVID-19 or are experiencing acute symptoms, we request that you cancel  your in-person appointment.

Late cancellations due to COVID-19 infection or exposure are waived and not counted toward our Same Day Cancellation Policy.

If sick, it may be possible to keep your appointment by switching to telehealth for certain modalities, including naturopathic, medical nutrition, psychotherapy, and herbal counseling in lieu of acupuncture.

Acute symptoms include, but are not limited to: cough, shortness of breath, congestion, sore throat, fever, vomiting.

We acknowledge that our chronically ill community experiences many of these symptoms regularly. If you are chronically ill, please use your discretion regarding whether symptoms may be due to a viral respiratory infection.

If you test positive for COVID within 72 hours of attending an in-person appointment at Be Well, we kindly request that you notify our admin team so we can contact trace if appropriate.

You may reschedule:

• 7 days after your first positive COVID test AND
• After being symptom-free for 48 hours
  OR
• After two negative rapid tests taken 48 hours apart
  
  

For non-COVID illnesses, please reschedule once symptom-free for 48 hours.

We know PCR tests can be difficult to access and rapid antigen tests can be costly.We also maintain a limited supply of rapid antigen COVID-19 tests available for patients and providers experiencing acute symptoms or recent exposure.

Local mutual aid projects such as FreeCovidTestsPDX may also deliver free tests and masks.

Testing Tips

• Do not eat or drink for 30 minutes prior
• Blow your nose and wash your hands
• Swab cheeks, throat, and nostrils for increased sample size3
• Take two tests 48 hours apart if symptomatic or three tests within 72 hours if asymptomatic — repeat testing improves accuracy4

Provider Illness & Informed Consent

Providers and office staff follow the same guidelines regarding COVID and acute illness.

If a provider is sick and cannot work, we will notify patients as soon as possible.

It is ultimately up to the provider’s clinical judgment when they choose to return to work, maintaining our commitment to collective care.  

If a provider determines they are fit to treat patients while recovering from an acute illness in some capacity, we will notify scheduled patients in advance. We extend this courtesy especially to our chronically ill, immunocompromised, and COVID-conscious community members, who may have different risk profiles.

We believe it is your right to make informed decisions about your exposure environment. For this reason, we will waive recorded late cancellations if you choose to reschedule due to provider illness concerns.

Disability-Specific Mask Exemptions

There are certain disability-specific exemptions to our masking policy.5

If it is difficult or unsafe for you to wear a mask due to breathing limitations, sensory considerations, neurological conditions, pain, or inability to put on or remove a mask without assistance, please notify the clinic in advance so we can accommodate accordingly.

We request honesty and good faith. Please be considerate of the disability exemptions.

If you are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons, we ask that you be extra diligent around exposures, consider precautionary testing prior to your appointment, and consider end of day appointments. 

Conflicting access needs can surface complex feelings. Please reach out to clinic staff if you have questions or concerns — we are committed to navigating these tensions with care.