NDIS News & Analysis
Allied Health / ECEI
Allied Health: Navigating the New Normal
Many Allied Health providers are hustling to adapt to the circumstances that COVID-19 has created, by either continuing face to face sessions (with increased PPE and infection prevention measures) or by moving their services online. People seem to be driven by a belief that we will only need to buckle down for a short stint, until things get back to normal. This may not be true. Although it is hard to accept (and we don’t want to be the ones to say it), things may never quite return to being ‘normal’.
Even as we start to build our caseloads back up (currently Allied Health services are operating at about 50%), the legacy of this pandemic will live with us for years. It will change the way people connect with others, their anxiety around infection and their ideas about what is essential. So, while it may feel good to be busy at the moment working to deliver the same services in a different environment, it might be better to think about delivering different services in the post COVID-19 environment.
The need to work hard and quickly adapt is unavoidable for Allied Health disability service providers as well as ensuring supports are compliant with ever changing government directives. The recent struggles produced by the cancellation of group sessions with two days’ notice and the fight for more PPE are just one example. Providers need to let people know about how services will be safely and effectively delivered and will need to make sure staff and technology are ready for the changes to come.
The hashtag #InItTogether is being used for followers of the pandemic in Australia. It speaks of a community approach to tackling the challenges on COVID-19. The disability sector has really taken this on-board. There have been numerous webinars, blogs, Facebook pages, articles and templates shared freely between disability organisations, for the good of people with disability. Maybe too many to keep on top of!
So we have pulled it together for you and created a list of resources you can freely access to help your Allied Health business navigate through this time.
There is a lot of talk and resources around Telepractice but we want to reassure you that Allied Health service delivery during and after COVID-19 is not just about putting existing services online. Allied Health is considered an essential service by the Australian Government, especially when supporting people with chronic health conditions. Allied Health needs to find different ways to connect with more Participants, not only for their health and wellbeing but also to keep businesses viable. Soon DSC will have an eLearning module on how Allied Health organisations can work to transition to this new ‘normal’.
RESOURCE LIST
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ALLIED HEALTH WEBINARS
The Department of Health have developed two webinars specifically for Allied Health in primary care and in the community. They can be found here:
26th March 2020: https://publish.viostream.com/app/s-n3tuxsb
2nd April 2020: https://publish.viostream.com/app/s-n3w95ri (this one is more useful, it discusses options still available to deliver services: face-to-face clinic sessions, home visits, community visits and Telepractice).
BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANS
DSC has developed a guide to help you develop a business continuity plan regarding COVID-19.
PARTICIPANT COMMUNICATION RESOURCES
Need a letter to send to Participants? You can modify this one developed by DSC: COVID-19 letter for Participants and families.
Health Translations is an online library which enables health practitioners and those working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities to easily find free translated health information.
This NDIS Commission has coronavirus information for people with disability including three easy read fact sheets from the Council for Intellectual Disability:
PPE
DHHS has a risk assessment checklist for workers including questions to ask the people you are working with and information on how to use PPE properly for face-to-face interactions with clients.
The NDIS Commission has put together some information for support workers on PPE. It includes some information on access to PPE.
The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services has put together some PDFs on how to put on your PPE and how to take off your PPE
INFECTION CONTROL TRAINING
The Department of Health has developed an online learning module and webinar about infection prevention for COVID-19.
DSC have developed an online module for support workers on Supporting People to Stay Infection Free. Sign up as many learners as you need at no extra cost. You can also host the course on your own LMS.
Here are some Department of Health quick links to related resources:
Practising social distancing
Following the limits for public gatherings
Understanding how to self-isolate if you need to
Additional cleaning requirements
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES AND NOT FOR PROFITS
The Australian government is providing relief packages between $20,000-$100,000 for small to medium businesses and Not For Profits (read more here).
The government has also introduced a JobKeeper payment for businesses (including Not For Profits) that have been significantly impacted by COVID-19. The payment is $1,500 per employee each fortnight to keep people at work.
The government is increasing the instant asset write-off threshold (from $30,000 to $150,000) and expanding access to include all businesses with an annual turnover of less than $500 million until 30 June 2020.
EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES
This Department of Health fact sheets, Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for employers, includes what you should tell your staff and what precautions you should take when cleaning.
This Department of Health fact sheet, Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for in-home care workers, is specifically for in-home workers. It includes when you can go to work and what you should do differently at work.
Worksafe explores workplace risk related to exposure COVID-19 and how to prevent and control those risks.
TELEPRACTICE RESOURCES
ACRM ehealth & Australian Medicare Local Alliance have a sheet on Seeking Consent of Telehealth. Speech Pathology Australia has an Informed Consent for Telepractice template too.
The Australian Psychological Society has a document Considerations for Providers regarding Telehealth. It does a really good job of outlining Privacy and Security steps that can be taken by providers.
Pulse +IT Magazine have done the hard work for you by comparing video conferencing apps.
A number of organisations have developed telehealth guides:The Australasian Telehealth Society has developed COVID-19 Telehealth Guides. Occupational Therapy Australia has developed Telehealth Guidelines 2020. The Australian Physiotherapy Association has developed Telehealth guidelines. Response to COVID-19.
There is a Facebook group for Allied Health called Telehealth Transformation. This is a great place to share ideas about engaging with consumers, discuss tech issues and share resources.
Umbo is a social enterprise who aims to improve access to speech and occupational therapy in regional Australia. It offers some free recorded webinars including these two: Online Therapy Ready COVID-19 and Engaging Clients in Online Therapy. You do have to sign up but it is free (donations accepted).
The Speech Express has pulled together a huge list of online resources (games, apps and more) and ideas for engaging people in online therapy. Check it out here: Teletherapy Resources: The ULTIMATE Master List.
Here are a couple of videos that provide examples of Allied Health Telepractice in actions in Australia:
Flinders University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4EbzgcPO1M
Kids First Child’s Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUhhL2s0kw
Presence Learning (not Australian but a useful one): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0s2OR5tEQA
QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Registered providers will need to use this form to notify the NDIS Commission of events resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak.
DSC has put together a checklist to make sure you maintain quality and safety during this time.