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Infection Prevention and Control Resources for Audiologists

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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

 

COVID-19 Update: Speech-Language Pathology Focused Telepractice Resources

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SAC has compiled speech-language pathology focused resources to assist you in providing accessible telepractice services:

Additional Resources

COVID-19 Update: Audiology Focused Telepractice Resources

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As many audiologists and other communication health professionals seek to provide virtual care to their patients and clients, accessibility of these services is an important consideration. Telehealth services provided to people who are hard of hearing must address the listening environment, communication skills, and aim to be family-centered. The use of appropriate assistive technology and captioning are also vital in order to achieve the best possible outcomes and any additional accessibility considerations will be based on individual needs. SAC has compiled some audiology focused resources to assist you in providing accessible telepractice services:

 

COVID-19 Update: New Audiology Update from the Federal Healthcare Partnership

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SAC recently contacted the Federal Healthcare Partnership (FHP) to inquire about and advocate for the provision of audiology services by telepractice. The FHP includes Veterans Affairs Canada, the RCMP, the Canadian Armed Forces (Department of National Defense), Medavie Blue Cross and Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB- Indigenous Services Canada). The First Nations Health Authority in British Columbia (BC) is also included.

During the COVID-19 pandemic and in support of recommended social distancing measures, VAC, CAF and RCMP will accept claims for telehealth/virtual health services in lieu of on-site/in person services. Telehealth/Virtual services offered during this period must be deemed appropriate and necessary by the health professional / service provider, and must be recognized and considered within scope of practice by the applicable professional associations and governing bodies.  All services provided must continue to be in accordance with the relevant policies, guidelines and benefit grid rules. http://www.sac-oac.ca/sac-work/third-party-payers

NIHB’s latest bulletins and newsletters, including information on COVID-19 are available here. Past NIHB newsletters and bulletins are available here.

A recent update from BC’s First Nations Health Authority can be viewed here.

Speech-Language Pathology Services in Healthcare Settings During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) has released an Official Statement on Speech-Language Pathology Services in Healthcare Settings During the COVID-19 Pandemic. The purpose of this Official Statement is to support the health and safety of SAC members and associates providing speech-language pathology services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Official Statement highlights concerns in the international community about the potential for a number of speech-language pathology procedures to be aerosol generating. However, current guidance from some provinces and territories may not support this view.

In the context of this rapidly changing health emergency, SAC members and associates should consider the best available evidence when undertaking point-of-care risk assessments for individual patients.

S-LPs are encouraged to raise the profession’s concerns about the risks associated with speech-language pathology procedures with their employers, while making necessary modifications to their practice as part of a risk management approach to patient care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following resources may be used to inform clinical practice, as well as advocacy initiatives:

 

SAC Resources

 

Canadian Resources

 

International Resources

 

COVID-19 Update: Telepractice

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Interest in telepractice has increased in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. SAC supports the use of telepractice as a means of facilitating access to speech-language pathology and audiology services. SAC’s Position Paper on the Use of Telepractice by SAC Speech-language Pathologists and Audiologists provides guidance to members and associates about this service delivery model. 

SAC members who provide telepractice services in provinces where the professions are regulated must adhere to the regulatory body’s standards of practice, including their specific professional requirements for the protection of patient/client privacy and confidentiality of personal health information, as well as processes for obtaining informed consent.  

SAC members who provide telepractice services in a province or territory where the professions are not regulated must comply with applicable privacy and health care consent legislation.

SAC Telepractice Webinar Series

Speech-Language Pathology-Focused Resources

Audiology-Focused Resources

A number of telepractice platforms are available in Canada. S-LPs, audiologists and communication health assistants are responsible for selecting a telepractice platform that complies with relevant privacy legislation, as well as any other professional regulatory requirements as applicable. It is important that S-LPs, audiologists and communication health assistants research the security features of any online communication platform that they use, and are aware of advisories about security issues and vulnerabilities associated with specific platforms. We also recommended that SAC members and associates check to see if the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner in your province/territory has updated or issued additional guidance related to security and privacy protection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As with other methods of service delivery, SAC members and associates providing services by telepractice should use research evidence to guide their practice.

CINAHL – SAC members and associates can use the search terms “telepractice” or “telehealth” to access free full-text articles about this topic in journals such as: ASHA Leader, International Journal of Audiology, International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, Journal of Speech, Language & Hearing Research, Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups…and many more.

ASHAWire – ASHA Journals has made a selection of relevant articles about telepractice free to all readers.

ASHA Evidence Map on Telepractice – a searchable online tool designed to help clinicians make evidence-based decisions.

The International Journal of Telerehabilitation – An open-access journal addressing telepractice in allied health professions.

Other useful information:

Closure of The Ear Foundation

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The Ear Foundation celebrated its 30th birthday in 2019 providing a wonderful opportunity to reflect on this fantastic organisation and all that it has achieved since 1989. During this time the opportunities for people with hearing loss have been transformed by technology, research, family-centred care and education; The Ear Foundation is proud to have been a driving force in many of these changes. 
 
However, rising costs and overheads, increased competition for charitable grants and cuts to training budgets in health and education have had a substantial impact on our charity finances. Staff and trustees have worked hard to address these issues, making changes to staffing, services, increasing grant applications and selling the residential building, Marjorie Sherman House. Unfortunately, this has not resolved our financial challenges and we have had to take the difficult decision to sell the remaining Ear Foundation property and cease trading in a positive, solvent and ethical manner, enabling the charity to leave a financial legacy.
 
We are therefore very sad to tell you that The Ear Foundation will close on 6th March 2020. We understand that this will come as a shock to many people and particularly those who have worked so hard and contributed to its success. 
 
Much has changed since The Ear Foundation opened its doors. Yet even with the latest technology and all that it offers to children and adults with hearing loss, there continues to be a need for person-centred, family-friendly and practical support and training. It is for this reason that a number of current staff are setting up a new charity to provide services which will continue to make a difference to the everyday lives of deaf children, adults and their families. We hope to bring you further news about this later in March and very much hope that you will continue to be involved with our work. 
 
Finally, a huge thank you to you for supporting The Ear Foundation and being a part of making it such a special organisation. We hope you will stay in touch.

With our best wishes,
The Ear Foundation team

The current website will remain live throughout March with information and updates www.earfoundation.org.uk 

Keep an eye out on our social media platforms for more information and updates:

Facebook – The Ear Foundation
Instagram – @theearfoundation
Twitter – @EarFoundation

If you have any queries, please contact info@earfoundation.org.uk
 
 

2020-2021 Scholarship Recipients

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SAC is proud to award 26 scholarships to the following student associates as part of the 2020-2021 SAC Scholarship Program:

Beach Family Graduate Scholarships

  • Nida Latif – McGill University
    • Nida Latif just finished her first year in the MScA Speech-Language Pathology program at McGill University. After finishing the program, she hopes to work with children with language difficulties related to autism and adults with aphasia. Her goal is to work towards providing more appropriate services in the uniquely multilingual environment of Montréal.
  • Isabella Speranza – University of Toronto
    • Isabella is currently a speech-language pathology student at the University of Toronto. She is extremely excited to pursue a career working in rural, underserved communities with the geriatric population after graduation. Regardless of location, every person has the right to communication and she is excited to be able to advocate for this.
  • Megan Van Kannel – McGill University
    • Isabella is currently a speech-language pathology student at the University of Toronto. She is extremely excited to pursue a career working in rural, underserved communities with the geriatric population after graduation. Regardless of location, every person has the right to communication and she is excited to be able to advocate for this.

Beach Family Placement Support Scholarships

  • Kendra Smith – Western University
    • Kendra Smith is a graduating Speech-Language Pathology student in the M.Cl.Sc. program in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western University. She has a special interest in augmentative and alternative communication and plans to transition to work in a clinic or hospital setting in the coming months.

Communication Health Assistant Scholarship

  • Hollie Dorrington – St. Lawrence College
    • Hollie Dorrington is currently a Communicative Disorders Assistant Student at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario. After finishing school she hopes to work with children of all ages in all kinds of clinical settings.

Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children Deborah Kully Scholarship

  • Levy Stewart-Bernard – University of Toronto

Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children Susan Lane Scholarship

  • Jessica Kirby – McGill University
    • Jessica Kirby and is a 2nd year student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at McGill University. In a few short months, she will be starting her career as a speech-language pathologist. Jessica is open to working with a variety of clientele, however, the areas of aural rehabilitation and early intervention are of special interest to her.

Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children Gordon Leslie Memorial Scholarships

  • Anika Talukder – McGill University
    • Anika Talukder is in her final year at McGill University with a plan to work with pre-school and school aged children using play-based intervention. She hopes to expand her clinical knowledge by attending a number of workshops and webinars.
  • Scotia McKinley – University of Toronto
    • Scotia is currently in the process of finishing her last placement as part of the University of Toronto’s Speech-Language Pathology program working with spine, orthopedics and cardiology patients at Toronto Western Hospital. She hopes to draw on the wonderful experience she has gained through this placement to continue treating adult patients in the acute and rehabilitation sectors in the future.
  • Konstantina Charamis – University of Ottawa
    • Konstantina Charamis is a MHSc candidate currently completing her studies at the University of Ottawa. Her professional focus is in adult populations with neurogenic communication disorders and her research interests include Shared Decision Making for persons with aphasia, with a commitment to socioculturally inclusive and responsive patient care. She aspires to practice in the clinical setting and to contribute to developments within the field of speech-language pathology with the goal of providing patients with optimal care and outcomes.
  • Christine Muscat – University of Toronto
    • Christine Muscat is a second year Speech-Language Pathology graduate student at the University of Toronto. She will be beginning a MSc/PhD in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Toronto in the fall of 2021. Her research will focus on investigating subacute paediatric stroke speech and language outcomes, on the path to pursue a career as a clinician-scientist.
  • Molly Clarke – McGill University
    • Molly is currently completing her final internship, marking the end of her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology at McGill University. She is very grateful to have received financial support from SAC in both her first and second years of study. Molly is a second-generation S-LP, following in her mom’s (Judy Lawlor) footsteps and hopes that one day they will be able to work together at home in Newfoundland. Molly’s clinical experience has mainly been in rehabilitation centres and she loves working in a rehab setting, both with children and adults.
  • Bianca Cava – University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Kaylee Miller – University of Toronto
  • Gagandeep Cheema – University of British Columbia
  • Regina Wenk – University of British Columbia
  • Mikayla Blumenthal – University of Toronto

SAC Scholarships

  • Charlotte Tai – University of British Columbia
    • Charlotte Tai is a second-year audiology student at the UBC School of Audiology and Speech Sciences. Upon completion of her Master of Science degree by summer 2021, she will be starting work as a pediatric audiologist and hopes to continue to raise awareness about hearing health for musicians.

Isabel Richard Scholarships

  • Emily White – University of Alberta
    • Emily is completing the second year of her Speech-Language Pathology degree at the University of Alberta. Her passion lies in supporting individuals in reaching their communication and swallowing goals post stroke or TBI.
  • Barbara Coelho – Laurentian University
  • Veronick Sorenson – University of Ottawa

Grace Margaret Harris Scholarship

  • Gabrielle Rouleau – McGill University

For more information about SAC’s scholarship program, please visit our website.

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