On July 20, 2020, Indigenous Services Canada released an update on their Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program, specifically regarding Medical Supplies and Equipment (MS&E) Coverage.
This update outlines that the temporary measures for COVID-19 have been extended until September 30, 2020. The update also highlights additional NIHB MS&E Program changes.
The Government of Canada announced a one-time $600 payment in recognition of the extraordinary expenses faced by persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visit the Government of Canada website for more information and to view eligibility criteria.
On July 9, SAC S-LP member Nausheen Khan was interviewed on 770 CHQR about funding changes in Alberta’s education system and their impact on speech-language pathology services in schools. Throughout the interview, Nausheen and the radio show host discussed the effects budget cuts have on children with speech and language difficulties.
The funding cuts are extensive, severe and abrupt. With a limited number of S-LPs in schools, children with speech and language difficulties will not be properly identified. As well, children will not make progress without ongoing speech-language pathology interventions of sufficient frequency and intensity.
In the interview, Nausheen explained: “When you go from a department with 25 S-LPs down to four, there’s going to be a lot of work that’s just not going to happen… There are windows of opportunities when children are young that are very important, and the impact you have when you put supports in place at that age can save children.”
To listen to the full interview, visit this website.
Guidelines and resources to inform audiology practice during the Covid-19 pandemic:
COVID-19 Return to Work Guidance and Recommendations for Vestibular Clinicians (AAA)
Newborn Hearing Screenings and Follow-Up During a Pandemic (AAA)
Best Practices Guidelines for Safely Conducting Hearing Testing During the COVID-19 Pandemic (NHCA)
Audiology & Otology joint guidance updated – 1 June 2020 (AIHHP, BAA, BSA, BSHAA Joint Guidance)
Audiological profile of asymptomatic Covid-19 PCR-positive cases
Guidelines are now available to inform speech-language pathology practice during the COVID-19 pandemic including:
BMS along with Gowlings WLG has prepared an information sheet on proposed changes to the health professional regulatory framework in British Colombia.
Since March of 2018, there has been an inquiry into the model of health profession regulation in BC. A steering committee was created to consult on and assess the current framework, leading to a number of criticisms and proposed changes.
Earlier this year SAC provided feedback to the Government of British Columbia’s Steering Committee on Modernization of Health Professional Regulation. SAC’s submission focused on concerns raised by our BC members regarding the impact the Committee’s proposed changes could have on professionals working in BC.
SAC stressed the importance of ensuring all regulatory changes are made openly and transparently, as well as, the importance of responding to complaints in a timely manner and involving speech-language pathologists and audiologists with specific practice expertise in the public complaints process.
Further information on the proposed changes to the BC health professional regulatory framework can be found in this information sheet from BMS and Gowlings WLG.
Many S-LPs are challenged to provide dysphagia management via telepractice during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new Communiqué article about this topic – Dysphagia Assessment and Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned from the Transition to Telepractice by SAC members Gabrielle Carrier, Veronica Rodriguez and Dr. Rosemary Martino – is now available.
Related international resources include:
Dysphagia and Telepractice During COVID-19 and Beyond Webinar (ASHA Health Care Services – Speech-Language Pathology)
S-LPs in Canada may need to modify international approaches to telepractice to ensure compliance with applicable Canadian federal and/or provincial legislation and regulatory requirements.
SAC has compiled a list of infection prevention and control resources from organizations in Canada and internationally that may be helpful. We also recommend that SAC members and associates familiarize themselves with infection prevention and control guidance provided by their regulatory body, as well as applicable provincial/territorial public health agencies.
Canadian Resources
COVID-19 guidance for schools Kindergarten to Grade 12 (Public Health Agency of Canada)
Community-based measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Canada (Public Health Agency of Canada)
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) : For Health Professionals (Public Health Agency of Canada)
COVID-19 and People with Disabilities (Public Health Agency of Canada)
COVID-19 Technical Brief: Masking and Face Shields for Full Duration of Shifts in Acute Healthcare Settings (Public Health Agency of Canada)
Infection Prevention and Control for COVID-19: Interim Guidance for Home Care Settings (Public Health Agency of Canada)
Infection Prevention and Control for COVID-19: Interim Guidance for Long Term Care Homes (Public Health Agency of Canada)
Infection Prevention and Control for COVID-19: Interim Guidance for Outpatient and Ambulatory Care Settings (Public Health Agency of Canada)
Infection Prevention and Control for COVID-19: Second Interim Guidance for Acute Healthcare Settings (Public Health Agency of Canada)
Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines (The Canadian Interorganizational Group for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Infection and Prevention Control Canada)
Infection Prevention and Control Core Competencies for Health Care Workers: A Consensus Document (Infection and Prevention Control Canada)
Guidance on Re-Opening Northern, Remote, Isolated, and Indigenous Communities (National Collaborative Centre for Indigenous Health)
National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Service
International Resources
COVID-19 Mobile Learning App (World Health Organization Academy) – This new app for health workers is now available at the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. It provides access to news, information, education and tools about a range of COVID-19 topics including epidemiology, managing patient care, infection prevention and control, as well as use of personal protective equipment.
SAC has compiled a list of audiology-focused resources from organizations in Canada and internationally which may be helpful.
Government Resources:
Infection Prevention and Control (Public Health Agency of Canada)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Infection and Prevention Control Canada)
Infection Prevention and Control Core Competencies for Health Care Workers: A Consensus Document (Infection and Prevention Control Canada)
Infection Prevention and Control for COVID-19: Second Interim Guidance for Acute Healthcare Settings (Health Canada)
International Resources:
Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19 (World Health Organization)
Infection Control Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19) (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Infection Control Resources for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA))
COVID-19: Moving Toward Full Audiology Services? (American Academy of Audiology (AAA))
Infection Control in Audiology Practice (American Academy of Audiology (AAA))
Booth Safety: COVID-19 and Beyond (American Academy of Audiology (AAA))
Audiology and otology services during Covid-19 (Joint guidance from the UK’s audiology professional bodies)
Other Resources:
Infection Control Resource (Oaktree Products Inc.)
Making Audiology Work During COVID-19 and Beyond (The Hearing Journal)
Courses on Infection Control from Audiology Online (Note: SAC members and associates get a discounted rate with Audiology Online)
Risk Assessment, COVID-19 ‘Just Audiology Stuff’ blog post
