We would like to announce that we are changing our mask policy.
We feel that, after being masked in the clinic for two years, current COVID-19 conditions, and a fully vaccinated and boosted staff, warrant a change in our policy. We are no longer requiring masks in the office. What does this mean for the clinic?
While we are lifting our previous mask policy, masks are still available to anyone who prefers to wear one; and all of our staff and providers are more than happy to mask upon request.
Clinics will remain closed during any stay at home mandated by local or federal government with exceptions made on a case by case basis. We will follow any and all local and/or federal guidelines with respect to elective medical procedures.
Employee Policies:
Each employee must wash hands when arriving for their shift and before and after any amount of patient contact.
Each employee must wear a mask during their shift.
Self assess health before arriving at the clinic and do not report to work if you:
Have a fever over 100.4 degrees.
Have any COVID symptoms.
Have been exposed to COVID-19 and are symptomatic. If you are asymptomatic:
Vaccinated employee: You may return to work after a negative test
Unvaccinated employee: required to quarantine per CDC guidelines.
Follow any updated CDC, local, or federal guidelines not covered by this document.
Minimize time patients spend in the waiting area.
All Employees and sublet tenants must be vaccinated by 1/1/2022. Exceptions only allowed on a case by case basis following CDC guidelines. Exemption requests must be submitted in writing with necessary documentation. Regular COVID 19 testing may be required.
Cleaning protocols: during the COVID-19 outbreak, strict cleaning protocols are to be followed:
All surfaces used are disinfected with a COVID approved cleaner after each patient. This includes but is not limited to:
Treatment room door knobs
Table and face cradle
Call buttons
Sheets are washed with Tide detergent on a hot cycle and changed in full between each patient
These and any other shared items must be disinfected with alcohol after every use and at the beginning and end or shift or before and after another staff member uses them:
Phone.
Ipad (also to be cleaned after each use by a patient)
Wipe down these and other commonly touched surfaces with a COVID approved cleaner at least daily:
Reception desk
Bathroom
Front door knobs/closet door knobs
Kitchen and other staff areas
Patients will not be seen if they:
Have been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 14 days
If they are vaccinated and asymptomatic, they can be seen with a negative COVID test
Have a fever over 100.4 degrees, or other COVID-19 symptoms
Refuse to abide by clinic policies
Clinic Policies:
Patients are asked to arrive on time for their appointment to minimize time in the waiting room.
Patients are asked to come alone to their visit unless they are accompanying a minor or on case by case expectations for other circumstances.
Patients and guardians are required to wear a cloth mask during their visit.
Patients and guardians are asked to wash hands with soap and water immediately upon arriving for their appointment.
Kate is officially on maternity leave as of last week! We would like to give a HUGE thanks to you, our dear community, for all the support and understanding as we move through this transition.
We are so excited to welcome Jennifer Broadwell- who will be covering Kate’s maternity leave! Kate’s online scheduler will be on pause and we anticipate her return mid-August with an adjusted schedule of evenings and weekends. She will focus on supporting established patients and start accepting new patients again in 2022. More updates and photos to come!
Welcome Jennifer Broadwell
We would like to welcome and introduce Jennifer Broadwell. Jennifer is coming to us from Florida and will be covering Kate’s maternity leave. She is a state licensed and nationally board certified acupuncturist and herbalist since 2011, and has been a licensed nurse since 2000. She created and managed the acupuncture program at Boca Raton Regional Hospital in the Women’s Department and the Oncology Department. She is committed to providing the highest quality personalized care to all her patients. She will be at the clinic starting Monday June 28- July 2. To schedule an appointment please call our office phone 865-315-3157 to get set up.
Please remember to wear a mask to your appointment. We will continue asking pre-screening questions and taking temperatures. With our new schedule please try to give us as much notice as possible if you need to change or cancel your appointment. This allows us to give those on the waiting list a chance to fill that appointment spot.
We have a few exciting updates to share with you. By now many of you know Kate’s good news and we are looking forward to her baby boy joining the world this summer. As we get excited for that we are also looking forward to Alex’s graduation from her Acupuncture program this August. We are excited to announce that she will be joining the clinic once she is licensed. During this time we are working hard to make these transitions are a smooth process so that we are able to continue supporting and serving our community.
We also would like to take the time to welcome our new office manager in training, Elizabeth Newman. We are so excited to have her join the team. When you see her at the office please say hello and introduce yourself. She will be working closely with all of us as we adjust during this time.
Please remember to wear a mask to your appointment. We will continue asking pre-screening questions and taking temperatures. As we continue to be flexible with the cancellation policy during this time, please try to give us as much notice as possible if you need to change or cancel your appointment. This allows us to give those on the waiting list a chance to fill that appointment spot.
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding during this time. We are excited to announce that are reopening next week on Tuesday May 5!! Now with this excitement we are also putting in place some policies to keep our clinic a safe place for all. Please read the following updates precautionary measures and policies we are implementing to maintain best practices during this time.
At this time, we are suspending cosmetic acupuncture treatments until further notice per Knox County guidelines. No procedures are allowed if the client has to remove a face mask.
Clinic Policies:
1. Please arrive on time for your appointment or wait indoor vehicle instead of coming into the waiting room.
2. Patients are asked to come alone to their visit unless they are accompanying a minor.
3. Patients and guardians are asked to bring and wear a cloth mask during their appointment. Staff will also be wearing masks.
4. Patients and guardians are asked to wash hands with soap and water immediately upon arriving for their appointment.
Upon the arrival your temperature will be taken and you will be asked the following questions:
Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19?
Are you experiencing cough, shortness of breath, or a sore throat?
Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours?
Have you had a new loss of taste or smell?
Have you had vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours?
Patients will not be seen if they:
Answered yes to any of the above questions.
Have a fever over 100.4 degrees.
These precautionary measures are from TN’s guidelines for reopening and will changed as needed to keep everyone as safe as possible as we navigate this next phase. Please be patient with us as we will also be keeping a lighter schedule to ensure enough time to properly clean and create a safe space for our staff and patients.
Keep an eye on our social media pages and connect with us! We will continue to be available via email, social media, phone if you would like to schedule or reach out with questions during this time.
At Maryville Acupuncture, we’re proactively taking steps to reduce the risk of the COVID-19 coronavirus to our community of patients and staff, especially now with a confirmed case of coronavirus in Tennessee. We’d like to share with you a few preventative measures to ensure the health and well-being of our patients and staff, as well as some links to helpful public health information. Our aim is to make our clinic a healthy place for all.
Many of our patients present with common non-contagious/non-serious upper respiratory symptoms such as allergies, asthma or a lingering cough following a cold, which we will continue to treat these conditions as they do not pose a risk to others.
If you are sick, the best option is to stay home.The main symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, coughing and shortness of breath. Call your primary care physician if you’re in need of medical attention for these concerns. If you need to cancel your appointment due to illness, you will not be charged. We understand and will happily help you reschedule.
Some things to remember:
Please use hand sanitizer when you check in at the front desk, or wash your hands in the bathroom. We also have hand sanitizer in the treatment rooms. Feel free to help yourself. When washing your hands, please wash for at least 20 seconds.
We change sheets, pillowcases and face cradle covers after each patient.
We regularly sanitize surfaces that are frequently touched such as door knobs, doors and faucets. We clean our bathroom regularly.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than onto your hands. If you sneeze or cough on your hands or into tissues or a handkerchief, please wash your hands or use hand sanitizer afterwards.
If you are coughing for any reason, please wear a mask. We understand it may be from allergies, asthma, or even heartburn, but it will help alleviate concerns from others sharing the space.
Avoid touching your mouth, nose, eyes and face with unwashed/non-sanitized hands.
Here are some more guidelines and links to inform you about how to take care of yourself and recommended practices regarding COVID-19:
We appreciate your understanding. With your participation we can continue to serve the patients who need us and keep our clinic a healthy and safe place for all. Thank you.
At least once a week in the clinic, I get the question “Can acupuncture help with weight loss?” My answer – “yes… kind of” – has a long caveat in front of it, so let’s break it down.
Here’s a view of both sides
Here’s the bad news – acupuncture alone will (most likely) not cause you to lose weight. Let’s be real, I wish I had the magic bullet for weight loss as much as anyone. But, it’s more important to me to be honest; and my honest truth is that acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help support you in your weight loss journey, not make the weight fall off for you. Unfortunately.
The good news is, though, that even though there’s no mystical, magical weight loss point, incorporating regular acupuncture into a weight loss regimen can make your journey easier, more comfortable and more enjoyable. Here’s how:
Keeping you comfortable during exercise
Most weight loss programs incorporate exercise, and we all know that increasing exercise usually means some type of discomfort – like achy knees, backs, feet and shoulders. Acupuncture can help you recover quickly from any of these exercise related aches and pains so that you can get back to the trail, treadmill or pool.
Optimizing your metabolism
Healthy metabolism comes from healthy digestion. Acupuncture can help regulate your digestion so you’re absorbing nutrients and eliminating wastes optimally, which will fuel your metabolism and support burning calories.
Managing stress and maintaining motivation
Weight loss can be stressful, with all the changes to your lifestyle, schedule and diet. Using acupuncture to manage stress can help decrease your cortisol, which can support weight loss. And decreased stress allows your motivation to stay present and focused on your weight loss goal.
Keeping cravings at bay
This is about as close to a magical weight loss point as it comes – there are protocols, specifically involving auricular (ear) acupuncture, that can help diminish cravings. To be clear, this won’t keep you from eating unhealthy food, but it does give you a little extra emotional and energetic support when it comes to making the choice not to eat unhealthy food.
So, there’s the skinny on how acupuncture can support you on your weight loss journey. Making changes is hard and we’re here to help.
If you’d like to talk more about how incorporating acupuncture can support a healthier you, don’t hesitate to reach out via email (info@maryvilleacupuncture.com), social media, or give us a call at 865.315.3157.
There are times when surgery is necessary, and we often get questions from our patients regarding the use of acupuncture before and after surgery. In most cases, acupuncture is a great option to help ease symptoms before and after surgery, as well as to help you heal from your procedure.
Break it down
Schedule an appointment today.
Here’s a little break down of how we use acupuncture to foster the most comfortable and healthy surgical experience.
Managing pain pre-procedure – The most common reason people receive surgery is because something hurts! And unless you’re receiving an emergency procedure, you’ll likely have to wait days or weeks from your time of diagnosis to your procedure. Although it won’t be able to repair the damaged structures causing your issue, acupuncture can help decrease your body’s pain signaling and tissue inflammation, which will do a lot to relieve your pain. Whether it’s from a shoulder injury, a colon issue, a car accident, or anything in between, if you’re in pain, acupuncture is a good option to help keep you comfortable until your procedure.
Decreasing the side effects of anesthetics/analgesics and recovering quicker from them – Another reason we see our patients before and after surgery is to help the body process the drugs needed for anesthesia and analgesia. These drugs that “put you to sleep” during surgery can have quite a few side effects, such as nausea, constipation dizziness and confusion. Acupuncture supports your liver’s ability to process these drugs and eliminate them from your body, so that you return to feeling “normal” quicker. It can also encourage bowels to move that have been slowed by analgesics, which naturally relieves constipation.
Wound healing and procedure recovery – Acupuncture has been shown to decrease post-procedural wound healing time and increase range of motion. It decreases systemic inflammation and upregulates your immune response so that the efforts your body is making to repair itself become even more effective and quicker. This anti-inflammatory effect will also extend to any joints that have been operated on, allowing them to move more comfortably when they are ready.
Managing stress – Regardless of the type of procedure you’re preparing for, and how your body is feeling, anticipating surgery can cause its own anxieties – about the procedure itself, the recovery, taking time off work, taking care of your responsibilities while you recover, etc. Acupuncture is especially helpful to calm your mind and body in these moments so that you can approach your procedure and the decisions surrounding it from a healthy emotional state.
Building your healthcare team
Here at Maryville Acupuncture, we’re committed to serving as part of your healthcare team. When you’re anticipating a procedure, we always request that you inform your surgeon’s team that you’re receiving acupuncture.
We’re happy to answer any question you — or your surgeon — may have regarding the safety and efficacy of acupuncture in respect to your procedure.
References:
Sang In Park, Yun-Young Sunwoo, Yu Jin Jung, et al., “Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture through Enhancement of Functional Angiogenesis and Granulogenesis in Rat Wound Healing,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2012, Article ID 464586, 10 pages, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/464586.
Jung, Se Yun et al. “Effect of Acupuncture on Postoperative Ileus after Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.” Journal of gastric cancer vol. 17,1 (2017): 11-20. doi:10.5230/jgc.2017.17.e2
We love topical herbs here in the clinic! Specifically, there are two formulas we use often in treatments to treat musculoskeletal pain: po sum on and white flower oil.
Po Sum On is a proprietary blend of Chinese herbs and peppermint oil that we use to warm the muscles and joints, especially in the cases of chronic pain/injury. This oil is especially good for old back aches, neck aches, and sore arthritic fingers.
White Flower Oil is a common analgesic liniment in China for aches and pains. In the clinic we use it when we want to cool the body – in cases of acute strain or flares of old injuries. It contains menthol, camphor, lavender, wintergreen and other oils that produce a cold sensation on the skin.
Here at Maryville Acupuncture, our practitioners utilize their years of experience treating pain of all sorts. Each visit, your acupuncturist will assess the quality, intensity, duration and frequency of your pain, as well as your current treatment regimens with your PCP and/or other physicians. We strive to be another source of excellent care as part of your integrated healthcare team.
Maryville Acupuncture and boosting the immune system.
Here at Maryville Acupuncture we like to support and carry local products. We’re so happy to announce that we’re now carrying two formulas from Forest Folk Fungi to support your immunity during cold and flu season!
Mushrooms and their role in Chinese Medicine
Mushrooms have been treasured for thousands of years for their ability to keep us healthy, and modern science has proven their specific effects in upregulating our production of immune cells that fight infection.
Forest Folk Fungi Products:
The Elderberry Reishi formula is a delicious way to help keep you healthy by combining the strong antioxidant properties of elderberry with the bacteriostatic and immune regulation functions of reishi. It’s got a beautiful dark red color and flavored with ginger, cinnamon, lemon and honey.
The Thrive Adaptogenic formula blends reishi and cordyceps with schisandra, milky oat seed, eleuthero, rhodiola and ginseng to help your body resist the effects of physical, emotional and mental stress. This hefty dose of adaptogens will ease your nerves, soothe your stress and allow your body to respond fully to whatever cold and flu season brings.
Check out Maryville Acupuncture for local products!
All Forest Folk Fungi products are wild-foraged, organically grown and handmade in the Chattanooga area. Don’t miss out on these tinctures this month!
It’s important to us that you feel comfortable and informed about your treatment, so we want to make sure all your questions are answered. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone or email if we can help at all!
