As per the safety guidelines set by the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia, the Provincial Health Officer and WorkSafe BC all clients must 1) complete a COVID-19 clinical survey and 2) understand the safety protocols implemented at our office prior to their therapy session. These protocols were developed with the goal of reducing the risk of exposure to the virus that causes Covid-19 for the clients and therapists within our clinical setting. The Protocols will be updated as needed.
For up to date information about Covid-19 please visit HealthLink BC https://www.healthlinkbc.ca and The BC Centre for Disease Control http://covid-19.bccdc.ca
Client Guidelines
- Hand Hygiene: All clients and their caregivers will perform hand hygiene (wash with soap and water or use hand sanitizer) upon entering the office, after using the washroom, after sneezing or coughing and after using a facial tissue.
- Waiting room guidelines:
- Clients are asked to arrive at their exact session time to eliminate time in the waiting room. You will be brought directly into the therapy room.
- Waiting room toys and books have been removed.
- Physical distancing:
- Clients and staff will avoid close greetings like hugs, handshakes, high fives.
- Wherever possible, physical distancing will be maintained during sessions.
- Pre-session screening: Clients will be screened prior to each session and asked to re-schedule if the client:
- Has a fever
- Has been directed by Public Health to self-isolate.
- Has arrived from outside of Canada or has had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case must self-isolate for 14 days and monitor for symptoms.
- Has had symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 10 days. Symptoms include fever, chills, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and new muscle aches or headache.
- Reducing people in clinic: Clients will attend sessions alone whenever possible. If the client is unable to attend the session alone, then only 1 caregiver may attend session with client. All other family members must wait outside the office whenever possible. The caregiver in the session will be asked to wear a mask &/or face shield.
Staff and Clinic Guidelines
- Decision making process: In-person sessions will only proceed when the anticipated benefits of such services outweigh the risks to the client and the clinician. These decisions will be made by the clinician ONLY IF the clinician is comfortable considering in person sessions and will involve a discussion with the clients and their families. Telepractice sessions are encouraged for clients who are able to successfully access intervention through this modality.
- Disinfecting procedures:
- All surfaces in therapy rooms will be disinfected between each client, including but not limited to tables, chairs, door handles,
- All high traffic touch surfaces in non-therapy room areas will be sanitized twice daily: including light switches and door handles
- Staff will minimize equipment and material in therapy rooms and attempt to keep them in closed bins until needed.
- All toys, materials and equipment will be disinfected between clients or used with one client only and disinfected at the end of the day.
- Staff will perform hand hygiene (wash with soap and water or use hand sanitizer) upon entering the office, after using the washroom, after breaks, after meals or snacks, after sneezing or coughing, after using a facial tissue and before and after each client.
- Physical distancing measures:
- Wherever possible, physical distancing will be maintained during sessions.
- All clinicians will wear either a non-medical mask or a face shield during therapy while in the therapy rooms regardless of whether physical distancing (6 feet or more apart) is maintained.
- Staff will avoid close greetings like hugs, handshakes, high fives.
- Health screening:
- Staff must assess themselves daily for symptoms of common cold, influenza, or COVID-19 prior to entering the clinic.
- Staff are prohibited from entering the office if:
- Directed by Public Health to self-isolate.
- They have arrived from outside of Canada or have had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. In this case, they must self-isolate for 14 days and monitor for symptoms.
- They have had symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 10 days. They may work remotely, via teletherapy, if appropriate. Symptoms include fever, chills, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and new muscle aches or headache.