In addition to our normal news coverage, What Now Atlanta is tracking ways Atlanta’s businesses are adapting to the novel coronavirus and the challenges it brings to brick-and-mortars.
While many Atlanta businesses have temporarily closed to slow the spread of COVID-19 as ordered by the State of Georgia, The Joint Chiropractic is on a short-list of “essential” services still operating its brick and mortars throughout the City and across the country.
“Relying on guidance from governmental agencies, national and state chiropractic associations and local health departments to direct its action, including the International Chiropractors Association, Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards, as well as Texas Chiropractic Association and the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, The Joint Corp. views chiropractic care as an essential healthcare service that can be used by patients with a wide array of health conditions in times of urgent need,” the company recently said in a prepared statement.
As of late-March, more than 95 percent of The Joint’s clinics nationwide were still open.
“I am deeply grateful for our doctors of chiropractic, who assume the great responsibility that all healthcare providers are being asked to carry during this unprecedented time,” Peter D. Holt, president and CEO The Joint Corp, said in a prepared statement.
“Protecting our patients and our staff from the spread of COVID-19 is our highest priority, which is why we have issued policies that align with guidance provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health departments for the continued safe operations of our clinics.”
Some of those protocols include creating more distance between patients waiting inside clinic locations, eliminating items such as magazines, utilizing alternative spinal adjustment techniques that minimize contact and heightened cleaning and sanitizing practices.
“The fact that up to now we have been able to maintain 70 percent of our normal patient visitation speaks volumes to the importance of chiropractic to our patients and validates that they see us as an essential healthcare service,” Holt said.
“Given the strong unit growth over the last several years, The Joint Corp. and our franchisees have never been in a stronger financial position to weather this storm. Nonetheless, given the remaining uncertainty we believe it is prudent to withdraw our 2020 financial and clinic opening guidance.”
The Joint operates 37 clinics in the greater metro Atlanta area, according to the company’s website.
[Editor’s note: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly evolving as is its effect on Atlanta, and the City’s businesses and its residents. Click here for What Now Atlanta’s ongoing coverage of the crisis. For guidance and updates on the pandemic, please visit the C.D.C. website.]
[Disclosure: The Joint is one of What Now Atlanta’s Preferred Partners.]
