chiropractic clinic in Renton just prior
to the pandemic.
By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
With the COVID pandemic still lingering African American businesses are still learning to adjust to the changes of the “New Normal”.
Hands on businesses in the medical field, like massage and physical therapy, have had to change the way they do business in order to adhere to state and federal guidelines provided by such imposed by state health officials, like adhering to social distances guidelines and to keep clients informed of all safety precautions and protocols.
As we know, since the beginning of the pandemic in March states mandated shutdowns to help mediate the virus to help slow down the spread. This move put an undue burden on a lot of small businesses, with some having to shut their doors for good.
Other businesses during the shutdown were categorized as “essential businesses” were able to remain open due to their services being vital for the citizenry.
Business owners like Dr. Tony Hemphill of the Spine Clinic, a chiropractic clinic, were fortunate enough to remain open although they did experience a slow down in business due fears and uncertainty surrounding the virus. But as information and knowledge of the coronavirus began to open up peoples fears subsided and business began to resume.
“In the early stages of the virus in March because we were considered an essential business, we were able to remain open,” says Hemphill. “Although due to the lack of information regarding the virus people’s fears induced business to slow down for a period of time.”
During this unprecedented time the number of businesses having to shut their doors rivaled that of the Great Depression. So, the government immediately set forth plans of financial assistance in the form of a stimulus bill to help keep businesses afloat.
The 116th Congress enacted the Cares Act to provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families and businesses affected by the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic and many essential businesses rushed to take advantage of the assistance.
“Yes, as a business we did apply for assistance,” says Hemphill. “Although the process took a while, we did receive financial assistance to help keep us on our feet.”
Hemphill, a longtime resident of the Pacific Northwest, who graduated from Garfield High School and the University of Washington, entered into the field of Physical Therapy in the early 1990s.
Just prior to the pandemic, Dr. Hemphill ventured on his own and opened up a clinic in Renton where he now practices, and admits it was a difficult challenge.
“It was difficult,” Hemphill recalls. “I just opened my own clinic in the Fred Meyer complex in Renton right when the pandemic hit so yes it was a challenge. But as more information came forth regarding the pandemic business began to pick up and return to normal pre pandemic levels.”
Another physical therapy business located in Seattle’s Columbia City community Columbia Physical Therapy has also endured and is surviving during these trying times.
Bruce and Wrenna Clayton, owners of Columbia Physical Therapy which opened in 1985, have had their own set of struggles due to the pandemic.
As with other businesses during the pandemic Columbia Physical Therapy has not been without struggles.
“Like everyone else since March we had to shut down everything,” says Wrenna Clayton. “We actually had to layoff most of our staff and just sort of figure things out. We are in private practice and as owners we found everything was impacted.”
Being labeled as an essential as well, the Claytons were able to remain open but it wasn’t for several months that they were able to gradually regain a sense of normalcy.
“We gradually started back getting into business as usual after health officials sent out guidelines,” Clayton remembers. “Because we are essential workers, with some cutbacks, I would say probably around April and May we started seeing clients again.”
One dilemma that the two businesses had in common was the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) available in the marketplace. Both Hemphill and the Claytons found themselves on their own trying to secure enough resources and equipment to sustain their business as well as abiding by the guidelines set forth by health officials.
“When the pandemic hit PPE equipment was not available in quantities as stores were running out of equipment rapidly,” says Hemphill. “We had to make our own hand sanitizer by combining alcohol and Aloe vera oils as well as trying to make facemasks with what materials we had.”
The Claytons say that there were also forced to be resourceful.
“It was difficult, says Clayton. “I think it is still difficult. We have to search and find it on our own because it is still not readily available.”
“When it comes to our clients and keeping them safe, we have adopted the recommendations in the guidelines set by health officials and organizations,” said Clayton. “We do our mask and gloves, we’ve always done sanitizing but now everything is just ramped up.”
Columbia Physical Therapy also applied for Cares Act, but like many other businesses owners they found the process to be burdensome but did allow them to slowly begin to rehire staff.
“We did apply for stimulus,” says Clayton. “But it was not easy or convenient and not nearly enough, especially to bring back staff members.”
“For a while my husband and I were pretty much on our own wearing many hats,” says Clayton “But I would say just in the last month or two we have been able to hire staff back slowly as referrals and clients have been coming back.”
While there is end in sight as it relates to the pandemic, businesses like The Spine Clinic and Columbia Physical Therapy are still open for business and providing a critical service for those who seek remedies and comfort.
“We are part of the community and it is important for the community to know that we are open for business,” says Clayton. “We were just talking about with everything that is going on in the community, Black Lives Matter, we should put a slogan out saying, “Black Health Matters” because you have to take care of yourselves and your health is what is going to make you stronger and be able to function and be successful in your own individual lives.”
