If you have been wanting to try TMS but are worried about increasing your exposure to coronavirus, you may have wondered how COVID affects TMS. Great news: here at Mid City TMS, we have instituted safety measures that reduce your chances of contracting COVID-19 while still allowing you to find relief from your depressive symptoms.
While it is of course crucial to keep physically healthy right now, it’s just as crucial to take care of ourselves mentally and emotionally. TMS has been deemed an essential procedure during this pandemic so we can keep not only our bodies well, but our minds well also.
How COVID Affects TMS Procedures at Mid City TMS
Optimizing our mental and physical health are very important to your overall well-being, especially during these times of unprecedented stress. Therefore, at Mid City TMS, we’ve implemented a variety of new strategies at our office to mitigate your coronavirus exposure while continuing to provide you with our high-quality, noninvasive treatment.
Our TMS procedures are still fully operational with these additional COVID-19 precautions:
Full PPE for Staff
All of our employees wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to keep both each other and our patients safe. Full PPE includes masks, disposable gloves, and face shields.
Daily Temperature Checks
Employees with temperatures of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit are not allowed to work until they have either self-quarantined for the recommended fourteen-day period or they have received negative COVID-19 test results. Patients’ temperatures are also monitored. If prior to your appointment your temperature is above 100, or you are experiencing any of the known symptoms of COVID-19, please call our office immediately.
Spaced Out Appointments
We are allowing longer time lapses than usual between appointments to reduce any overlap of patients in our waiting room.
Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer stations are readily available in all treatment rooms as well as our waiting room.
Regularly Disinfected Equipment
All parts of the TMS machine are disinfected between patients, including the magnetic coil, electrodes, and stimulator cables. The chairs patients sit in while receiving TMS treatments are also being sanitized after each appointment.
Increased Ventilation
We have placed exhaust fans in all TMS treatment rooms. These fans promote excellent circulation, helping to eliminate any COVID-19 particles that might linger in the air.
Patient Face Masks
We are requiring all patients to wear face masks at all times while in the office. If you forget to bring your own mask, we can give you one. The mask will not interfere with any aspect of your TMS treatment.
Why TMS Is Considered An Essential Procedure
TMS has been deemed an essential medical service by the CDC for numerous reasons.
Mental Health Is Part of Total Health
When it comes to our personal health, it’s always important to take care of ourselves physically and mentally. Both our minds and bodies are intricately connected to one another, and both affect our overall well-being.
During the current pandemic, the importance of taking care of our minds and bodies has never been more important — and has never seemed more challenging. As we all know, coronavirus has had devastating effects on many individuals’ physical health. It has also caused many people to struggle with their mental health. The pandemic has put us all under a tremendous amount of strain. From grieving the loss of a loved one to COVID-19, to struggling to put food on the table, to being starved for human touch, everyone’s personal battles are unique.
For those who already struggled with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, the stress of coronavirus and isolation puts those individuals at a higher risk for relapse.
The number of people who previously had not experienced mental health struggles and are now is also increasing at an alarming rate. Roughly 30% of American adults are currently experiencing symptoms of clinical depression, a huge increase from last year’s 6.6%.
Given these rising numbers, it is imperative that people both with existing mental health conditions and those seeking professional help for the first time have access to safe, effective and reliable procedures such as TMS.
TMS is Noninvasive and Effective
TMS is one of the safest and most effective options for treatment-resistant depression. Over 75% of patients who use TMS experience significant relief from their depression symptoms. TMS is entirely noninvasive, making it safer than many other medical treatments available.
Extreme stress and mental health struggles can, understandably, increase many people’s desire to use drugs or alcohol to dull their feelings.. The pandemic has led to a widespread increase in at-home alcohol consumption. Evidence suggests that the stress of the pandemic and quarantine can lead to abusing alcohol and other substances as well. Numerous populations across the U.S. have already seen a surge in patients at recovery centers and numbers of drug overdoses. The risk of insufficiently treated depression leading to or exacerbating substance abuse is one reason why it’s crucial to present individuals with safe and viable treatments like TMS
Mid City TMS Minimizes Your COVID Exposure While Providing Crucial Mental Health Services
We understand how unsettling it can be to venture out of your home these days. Fear of getting coronavirus has made even everyday tasks seem challenging.
However, not getting help with your depression because of COVID-19 fears can be detrimental to your overall health and well-being, especially given the tremendous amount of stress caused by the pandemic.
If you’ve been looking to start TMS treatments but didn’t know how COVID impacts the delivery of TMS, hopefully your worries have now been eased. We here at Mid City TMS have implemented a variety of new policies to ensure that our patients can receive the mental health support they need while minimizing risks.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist in keeping you physically healthy while providing you necessary relief from your depressive symptoms.