APTA Iowa COVID-19 Statement:

APTA Iowa is committed to flattening the curve of COVID-19 infection. We support the position of the American Physical Therapy Association which “encourages PTs, PTAs, and students to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 outbreak by following CDC guidance to minimize exposure in the clinic and practice social distancing by avoiding large social gatherings”. The Department of Homeland Security designates physical therapists and physical therapist assistants as part of the critical healthcare infrastructure. As such, we provide essential services which have the potential to reduce the burden on other areas of the healthcare system including emergency departments, hospitals, and physician offices. While providing essential services, we have a responsibility to review CDC guidance and to use professional judgement in the best interest of our patients, clients, and communities. The CDC provides additional guidance for healthcare providers at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/index.html . We encourage members to review these guidelines regularly, to utilize telehealth visits when appropriate, to weigh the risks and benefits of immediate, in-person treatment, and to make other adjustments to care delivery to minimize the chance of unnecessary exposure to COVID-19.

As recommendations continue to evolve regarding COVID-19, APTA Iowa is working to provide a centralized platform for communication and resources specific to this situation.  We have developed the resources listed below to provide our members with the most up to date information to help navigate the rapidly changing landscape in our communities. We will update this page as we receive information from APTA, the CDC and IDPH along with the other organization listed below. Please follow us on FB and Twitter for updates and contact our office at mail@iowaapta.org. 

Vaccine Update February 2021

APTA Iowa is committed to providing timely and up-to-date information to members regarding COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers in Iowa. Please see the updates below for Polk and Dallas counties.

*Note: There is still no guidance on the IDPH site regarding which counties are in which phases of vaccination. We encourage members to seek out new information weekly for updates in their county. Most counties have resources available on their website or social media platforms. 

Polk County Update

https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/health-department/news-and-press-releases/health-department-and-partners-expand-covid-19-vaccination-to-healthcare-workers-in-phase-1a-to-additional-groups /

Dallas County Update

https://who13.com/news/hy-vee-helping-dallas-county-healthcare-workers-get-covid-19-vaccination/

Resources

APTA

http://www.apta.org/Coronavirus/

Centers for Disease Control
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Iowa Department of Public Health

https://idph.iowa.gov/emerging-health-issues/novel-coronavirus

https://idph.iowa.gov/Licensure/Iowa-Board-of-Physical-and-Occupational-Therapy - Guidance from Licensure Board

Center for Industrial Research and Service (Iowa-specific information) :

https://www.ciras.iastate.edu/covid-19/

Legal Resources in the Workplace and for Healthcare Providers

https://www.davisbrownlaw.com/coronavirus-resources.aspx

Model Pandemic HR Policy
https://www.thinkhr.com/hrhotline/alerts/Sample%20Model%20Pandemic%20Flu%20Policy.pdf

U.S. Chamber of Commerce (employer recommendations):
https://www.uschamber.com/coronavirus

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (guidance for businesses and employers):

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/emres/2019_ncov.html

Telehealth Resources

APTA Iowa Telehealth Guidelines