Many Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) members and associates are facing professional, financial and personal challenges associated with the rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic. SAC wishes to thank you for your commitment to your patients, clients and your profession during these most trying of times.
Members and associates may find the following resources helpful when making decisions about their professional practice in light of COVID-19. Click on the buttons below to jump to each list of resources:
Below are some resources to help guide clinical practice and telepractice during this pandemic.
SAC Official Statements
Infection Prevention & Control
- SAC has gathered infection prevention and control resources to assist members and associates in protecting their health and safety, and that of their patients/clients.
- Infection Prevention and Control Resources for S-LPs in Healthcare Settings (updated May 25, 2020)
- Infection Prevention and Control Resources for Audiologists (updated June 2020).
- Masks (updated February 4, 2022)
- New PPE Matchmaking Portal (updated June 22, 2020)
- Canada’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan: Saving Lives and Livelihoods
- COVID-19 Awareness Toolkit
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SAC has developed a new info sheet on the use of N-95 respirators for speech-language pathology services. (updated Feb 2, 2020)
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SAC has developed a new info sheet to highlight the increased risk of developing voice disorders in the COVID-19 workplace. (updated October 8, 2020)
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SAC has developed a new info sheet on the impact of masks on communication and what members of the public can do to improve communication when wearing a mask. (updated August 21, 2020)
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The Canadian Coalition for Adult Hearing Health (CCAHH) has prepared a tip sheet for healthcare providers communicating with patients with hearing loss (updated April 28, 2020).
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SAC has gathered communication support resources to assist members and associates in communicating with patients who may need additional support due to speech-related disabilities (updated April 20, 2020).
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The Ida Institute along with their partnering patient organizations launched a resource with advice for communicating when using face masks. The resource is based on content developed by the Danish Association of the Hard of Hearing and is endorsed by Ida partners who have collaborated to adapt the content for an international audience.
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SAC has gathered resources on end of life care to support members and associates in communicating with patients at end of life (updated April 23, 2020).
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Home and Community-based Palliative Care: Shaping the Future from Lessons Learned during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Health Canada, June 2021)
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SAC has put together a webinar series focused solely on telepractice. The webpage features upcoming SAC webinars and past webcasts from the series, as well as one filmed webinar from OSLA (updated April 24, 2020).
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Due to increased interest in telepractice as a result of COVID-19, SAC has gathered resources for using telepractice (updated April 29, 2020).
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SAC has compiled additional audiology focused resources to assist those providing telehealth to people who are hard of hearing (updated April 24, 2020).
- SAC has complied additional speech-language pathology focused resources to assist those providing telehealth services.
Extended Health Insurance Benefits (including information on Telepractice)
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SAC continues to work with the Federal Healthcare Partnership (FHP) to provide you with updates on the provision of audiology services including telepractice (updated May 4, 2020).
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SAC has been actively reviewing information from some of the larger insurance companies on telepractice and extended health insurance benefits (updated April 6, 2020).
- Resource for Post COVID-19 Condition (Long COVID) Guidance for Canadian Rehab and Exercise Professionals
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Canada’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan: Saving Lives and Livelihoods
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Public Health Agency of Canada infection prevention and control guidance for COVID-19 for acute care, long-term care, out-patient and ambulatory care and homecare settings (June 21, 2021 update):
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COVID-19 vaccines are strongly recommended for healthcare workers who do not have a contraindication.
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There are currently no recommended changes to IPC practices regardless of vaccination status.
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National level guidance should always be read in conjunction with relevant provincial, territorial and local policies and regulations.
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Vaccine Policies in Workplaces: To Mandate, or Not to Mandate (December, 2020)
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Mandatory Vaccinations, Rapid Testing, Screening, Record Retention and the Law (May 27, 2021)
- Webinar | A Vision to Transform Canada's Public Health System with Dr. Theresa Tam (Public Health Agency of Canada)
- Expanding access to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and proposing a new wage boost for essential workers (April 15)
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit
- The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
- INFOGRAPHIC: Mental health during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
- VIDEO: COVID-19: Ways to improve ventilation and air filtration in your home
- Letter to Neil Parmenter, President & CEO, Canadian Bankers Association
- Letter to the Hon. Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health and Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer
- Letter to the Hon. William Francis Morneau, Minister of Finance
SAC has also reached out to our insurance partner, BMS for information on the impact of COVID-19 on our members and associates:
- Statement from BMS (updated March 19, 2020).
- COVID-19 FAQ’s (updated April 3, 2020).
- Webinar: COVID-19: Considerations for Financial Management, Wellbeing & Delivering Services as a Healthcare Professional during the Pandemic
- Vaccine Policies in Workplaces
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM BMS
- Considerations When Resuming Practice
- Waivers of Liability
- COVID-19: Virtual Health Care Services Ensuring Continuity of Care
- Template for Consent to Use Electronic Communications to Provide Telehealth Services
- Crisis Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Ethical Issues for Regulated Health Professions in the era of COVID-19
- Webcast: COVID-19: Telehealth, Liability & Business Insurance Considerations (2020)
- COVID-19: Workplace Safety and Rights of Allied Health Professionals to Refuse Work
- Business Continuity Planning during COVID-19: What to do if you have no plan or if your plan isn’t working
- Risk Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Checklist to Recovery
- Parting Ways - The Right Way: Terminating the Client Relationship
SAC has gathered resources developed by the Canadian Psychology Association and other organizations to provide insight and tips on maintaining mental health during this pandemic:
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Pathways To Resilience: Strategies for a World in Upheaval Webinar Series (Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists)
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“Psychology Works” Fact Sheet: Coping with and Preventing COVID-19 (Canadian Psychological Association)
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“Psychology Works” Fact Sheet: Working from Home During COVID, With and Without Children (Canadian Psychological Association)
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Psychological Impacts of the COVID-19 (Canadian Psychological Association)
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Psychological Services at No Charge for Health Care Providers (Canadian Psychological Association)
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Free Online Course for Managing Stress During COVID-19 (University of Toronto)
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Taking Care of Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Government of Canada)
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Mental Health Support, Resources and Counselling (Wellness Together Canada)
- Pandemic Parenting
- Psychological First Aid Courses (Canadian Red Cross)
- Psychological First Aid to Frontline Health Care Workers During COVID-19 (by Dr. Mélanie Joanisse)
- The Psychology Foundation of Canada: COVID-19 Resources to Help Build our Children’s Resilience
- Other Canadian Psychological Association COVID-19 Fact Sheets & Resources
PLEASE NOTE: SAC staff are currently working remotely and are available by email. SAC will continue to provide services to members and associates.