The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has drastically changed health care practice around the world. Many medical speech language pathologists are uncertain about how and whether to continue managing patients with swallowing impairments (dysphagia), and if so... whom? In this episode of Down the Hatch, special guests with expertise in swallowing research and clinical practice discuss questions that center around whether SLPs are essential practitioners at this critical time.

Links to sources referenced can be found here:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25129577/

https://insights.ovid.com/clinical-pulmonary-medicine/cpulm/2018/09/000/aspiration-asp-sh-noun-ambiguous-term-used/4/00045413

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9513300/

https://www.entnet.org/sites/default/files/uploads/covid-19_endosb_lettertoeditor_neurosurgery_update3.23.20.pdf

https://www.entnet.org/content/academy-supports-cms-offers-specific-nasal-policy?fbclid=IwAR2T5mtY9cmBZHzrlC5pksT5yf2SzVyKFNjsOI-ErslyndZzV8qAPsb8XbI

https://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/2763329/covid-19-risk-health-care-workers-case-report

https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2020/03/05/uc-davis-self-quarantine-test-negative/

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/keeping-the-coronavirus-from-infecting-health-care-workers

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25807865

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1459179/

CMS recommendations:

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/31820-cms-adult-elective-surgery-and-procedures-recommendations.pdf

AAOHNS's statement as of 3/26:

https://www.entnet.org/content/academy-supports-cms-offers-specific-nasal-policy?fbclid=IwAR1LGbGXaj66oBmwlEwuehHkYIF7odgm4GdhVRnvzBWr3IKWSGq50ngQ8qc

CDC on minimization of transmission within different settings:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/guidance-hcf.html

Ventilation and PPE usage with aerosol transmission:

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Factors+involved+in+the+aerosol+transmission+of+infection+and+control+of+ventilation+in+healthcare+premises

High-risk patient factors for severe illness from COVID-19:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-higher-risk.html

https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/CISA-Guidance-on-Essential-Critical-Infrastructure-Workers-1-20-508c.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1nrXpoPEIg40jdn4UH-k_TTeZK8-SAP4SyDtWc85xnicLOTjz1tN6O-4E