Example 1

An audiology clinic typically provides routine in-person hearing screening services. Should these services continue?

The decision-making checklist can be used.

Question
1.  Does the product or service protect, promote, or maintain health? YES
2. Could interrupting delivery of the product or provision of services immediately endanger an individual’s life, health or safety?

  • In making the determination, consider other risks, for example if a person cannot hear a fire alarm or safety instructions because their hearing aids aren’t working, their life, health or safety could be endangered.
 NO
3. Is the product or service listed on the essential services list available at https://www.alberta.ca/essential-services.aspx? YES
4. Is there some other consideration that makes provision of the product or service “urgent”? (ACLSPA members must be able to justify the basis for their decision that the product or service was urgent based on the specifics of the situation) NO

Decision: The answer to question (2) is “NO” and the answer to (4) is “NO”.

The service should be discontinued unless it can be done without any in-person element or attendance at a business or clinic. As this is impossible the service should be discontinued and clients and the public should be provided with appropriate information.

Example 2

An audiologist receives a call that a person is suddenly having difficulty hearing common sounds that they had no difficulty hearing just a short while ago. The loss of hearing seems to be getting progressively worse in a relatively short span of time. Should the audiologist consider providing a service?

The decision-making checklist can be used.

Question
1.  Does the product or service protect, promote, or maintain health? YES
2. Could interrupting delivery of the product or provision of services immediately endanger an individual’s life, health or safety?

  • In making the determination, consider other risks, for example if a person cannot hear a fire alarm or safety instructions because their hearing aids aren’t working, their life, health or safety could be endangered.
 NO
3. Is the product or service listed on the essential services list available at https://www.alberta.ca/essential-services.aspx? YES
4. Is there some other consideration that makes provision of the product or service “urgent”? (ACLSPA members must be able to justify the basis for their decision that the product or service was urgent based on the specifics of the situation) YES

Decision: The answer to (2) is “NO” but the answer to (4) is “YES”

The person may be suffering rapid onset hearing loss, which may be urgent in the opinion of the audiologist even though there is no immediate indication that the life, health or safety of the person is endangered (question 2). Because the answer to question (4) is “YES”, the service could be provided assuming the audiologist can follow all public health instructions for the prevention of COVID-19 spread.

Example 3a

An audiologist receives a call from a client whose hearing aid is not working properly. The hearing aid is relatively new and troubleshooting can occur over the phone with the client. Should the audiologist consider providing a service?

Decision: As there is no need for an in-person visit, the audiologist can consider providing this service to the client.

Example 3b

After troubleshooting on the phone, the audiologist finds out that a simple mechanical adjustment is required. The audiologist suggests to the client that the hearing aids be dropped off in the secure mail slot of the clinic in a labeled package. Can this service be provided?

Decision: As there is no need for an in-person visit, the audiologist can consider providing this service to the client assuming all public health instructions for the prevention of COVID-19 spread can be observed in the audiologist’s workplace. A plan will have to be developed to return the hearing aids to the client that does not require in-person contact (curbside pick-up may be an option).

Example 4

A family who is receiving supports through FSCD would still like to receive services in the home by both a therapy assistant and the SLP. Should the SLP provide the Service?

The decision-making checklist can be used.

Question
1.  Does the product or service protect, promote, or maintain health? YES
2. Could interrupting delivery of the product or provision of services immediately endanger an individual’s life, health or safety?

  • In making the determination, consider other risks, for example if a person cannot hear a fire alarm or safety instructions because their hearing aids aren’t working, their life, health or safety could be endangered.
 NO
3. Is the product or service listed on the essential services list available at https://www.alberta.ca/essential-services.aspx? YES
4. Is there some other consideration that makes provision of the product or service “urgent”? (ACLSPA members must be able to justify the basis for their decision that the product or service was urgent based on the specifics of the situation) NO

Decision: Because the answer to question (2) and question (4) are both “NO”, the SLP should not provide an in-person service. They may consider alternate means to provide services (e.g., telepractice) if that is feasible in the particular circumstances.

Example 5

An audiology clinic typically provides treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.  Should these services continue?

The decision-making checklist can be used.

Question
1.  Does the product or service protect, promote, or maintain health? YES
2. Could interrupting delivery of the product or provision of services immediately endanger an individual’s life, health or safety?

  • In making the determination, consider other risks, for example if a person cannot hear a fire alarm or safety instructions because their hearing aids aren’t working, their life, health or safety could be endangered.
 YES
3. Is the product or service listed on the essential services list available at https://www.alberta.ca/essential-services.aspx? YES
4. Is there some other consideration that makes provision of the product or service “urgent”? (ACLSPA members must be able to justify the basis for their decision that the product or service was urgent based on the specifics of the situation) NO

Decision: The answer to the questions are YES, therefore, the service could be provided assuming the audiologist can follow all public health instructions for the prevention of COVID-19 spread.