Session Descriptions for the ASHA Health Care Summit

These pre-recorded online conference sessions are on-demand and last about an hour, so you can listen to them whenever time permits! 

Perspectives on the Treatment of Patients With Post-Acute and Long COVID
Julie Sullivan, MS 

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on health care and rehabilitation. SLPs are now treating large numbers of patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19. Meanwhile, another group of patients have emerged—those who experienced relatively mild cases of acute COVID-19 but now present with long COVID, a puzzling and debilitating set of symptoms. This session highlights patient experiences with COVID-19 and its aftermath and what clinicians have learned to date in treating these two groups of patients. The presenter identifies the gaps in care, the challenges that these patients face, and how we can best serve them going forward.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• describe symptoms of post-acute sequalae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC)
• distinguish between the needs of patients who had acute hospitalizations for COVID-19 vs. patients with long COVID
• outline the SLP’s role in diagnosing and treating patients with PASC
• incorporate patient perspectives into service delivery

Management of Cognitive-Communication Disorders in Post-COVID-19 Patients
Rebecca Boersma, MA, CCC-SLP

This session reviews the emerging evidence of neurological manifestations of COVID-19 and identifies how SLPs can use their unique position to maximize patient outcomes—whether as a member of an interdisciplinary team or as a solo provider. The session strives to increase clinicians’ confidence in their abilities to: identify common cognitive-communication symptoms for patients who have recovered from COVID-19, and evaluate and treat with an individualized, patient-centered approach.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• identify emerging evidence regarding COVID-19 and neurological manifestations
• identify key interdisciplinary team members to help optimize patient outcomes
• recognize the typical symptoms associated with post-COVID-19 syndrome, and implement evaluation and treatment approaches

Dysfunctional Breathing and Long COVID
Hadas Golan, MS, CCC-SLP 

This session explores dysfunctional breathing that might underlie or complicate long COVID symptoms as well as how to identify and treat it. The speaker discusses assessment and treatment of dysfunctional breathing using evidence-based tools and integrative breathing therapies.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• recognize aspects of dysfunctional breathing in your patients
• use validated breathing questionnaires to suggest the presence of dysfunctional breathing
• explain to patients and colleagues the multidimensional aspects of dysfunctional breathing in the context of patient symptoms
• modify basic breathing techniques to treat patients with long COVID

Laryngeal Complications of Patients With COVID-19 in Critical Care Following Intubation and Tracheostomy
Sarah V. Wallace, OBE, BSc, PGDip, FRCSLT

This session discusses the vital role SLPs who work in adult ICUs play in detection and management of voice, swallowing, and airway complications following COVID-19. The speaker discusses the nature of these complications; intubation, tracheostomy, and COVID-19 features; factors to guide early treatments; and how these factors shape decision-making in post-ICU settings.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• outline the steps required for addressing laryngeal complications through relevant case history, FEES images, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team
• select appropriate early treatment interventions for voice, airway, and swallowing problems in this population
• explain the value of early SLP treatment in the ICU
• evaluate the impact of COVID-19 and tailored interventions on patient outcomes

Pathophysiology of COVID-19: Acute Illness and Longer-Term Sequelae
Emily Hyle, MD, MSc

This session reviews the basic pathophysiology of COVID-19, with an emphasis on respiratory, swallowing, and cognitive issues, as well as a discussion of infection control approaches. The speaker also reviews the long-term conditions associated with COVID-19.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• explain the basic pathophysiology of COVID-19
• assess long-term conditions associated with COVID-19
• apply pathophysiology principles to the treatment of patients with COVID-19

Long COVID in Post-Acute Care: Evidence-Based Trends and Practice
Joel VanEaton, BSN, RN, RAC-CTA, MT, and Renee Kinder, MS, CCC-SLP, RAC-CT

This session introduces the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) quality data and presents a person-centered, holistic approach to treating long COVID in post-acute care. The speaker discusses risk factors and clinical presentation of long COVID with a view toward appropriate care.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• apply person-centered engagement principles to your client population
• explain long COVID and its application to the LTC population
• employ specific strategies for approaching long COVID from a holistic perspective

Patient-Provider Communication Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Stephanie J. Scibilia, MS, CCC-SLP, and Jessica Gormley, PhD, CCC-SLP

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a long-standing imperative to address patient-provider communication and inequities in health care settings. This session explores the barriers to effective patient-provider communication and shares potential solutions to these challenges. The speakers discuss the landscape of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) at health care institutions and highlight the need for collaboration, emergency preparedness, and future-oriented planning.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• identify the benefits of and barriers to supporting patient-provider communication in your health care setting that have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic
• describe common low-tech solutions to improve patient-provider communication 
• identify needs for development and implementation of tools in your health care setting

Telepractice Use Across the Continuum of Care During the Pandemic and Beyond
Irene G. Brettman, MS, CCC-SLP

Far-reaching advancements in medicine and technology, coupled with the catalyst of the COVID-19 pandemic, have catapulted telepractice into the forefront of clinical care. This session reviews the rise of telepractice, how it has created a lifeline for patients during the pandemic, and how SLPs can optimize its use across the continuum of care to best serve our patients.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• describe the use telepractice across the continuum of care and identify relevant terminology
• describe three competencies for the successful implementation of telepractice
• describe approaches to patient-centered and culturally responsive telepractice

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Reimbursement Landscape
Tim Nanof, MSW

This session discusses the changes to reimbursement and coverage stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health emergency (PHE). The speaker addresses ASHA advocacy initiatives and changes in policy related to telehealth as well as other key aspects of coverage, reimbursement, and policy requirements during the PHE. Additional topics include workforce changes, HIPAA flexibilities, state variations in PHE declarations, and variations with different payers in different health care settings. The session discusses payer-specific advocacy, policy developments, and outcomes as well as next steps and what to expect in the future.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• identify the major changes to coverage and reimbursement during the COVID-19 pandemic
• explain ASHA's advocacy initiatives related to telehealth across health care settings
• advocate for improved telehealth coverage with various payers

Interprofessional Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Panel Discussion
Hailey Massimino, MS, CCC- SLP; Alexa DiPalma, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS; Amanda Koechel, PT, DPT; and Colleen M. O'Quinn, OTR/L

Clinicians across professions—including a speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and social worker—address interdisciplinary care during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss challenges clinicians in the long-term acute care setting have faced and review some of the modifications they have made to address these challenges, as well as implications for patient progress and discharge planning.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• identify specific challenges the COVID-19 pandemic imposed on interprofessional practice
• describe the possible implications of these challenges on patient outcomes and discharge planning

Updates on the Neurological Impact of COVID-19
Shibani S. Mukerji, MD, PhD

This session addresses the question of why patients with COVID-19 have such diverse clinical presentations. The speaker zooms in at the microscopic level to explore the nature and frequency of neurologic sequelae of COVID-19, covering findings observed on neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid testing. The session summarizes data from neuropathological studies, discusses new studies on the involvement of the peripheral nervous system, and explores treatment considerations.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• name common neurological symptoms and brain MRI and cerebrospinal fluid findings in people who were hospitalized with COVID-19
• describe key features from neuropathological studies of COVID-19
• discuss emerging neurological patterns observed in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19/post-COVID-19 condition

Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Keshrie Naidoo, PT, DPT, EdD

This session describes the social determinants of health—defined by the World Health Organization as the conditions under which people live, work, learn, and play—and explains how patients’ health and well-being can be viewed as a socially constructed phenomenon. The session explores the role of systems of oppression and location of position in generating health inequities and uses current evidence about the interplay between the COVID-19 pandemic and the social determinants of health to help participants develop strategies to intervene to improve their patients’ quality of life and promote health equity.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• explain the constructs that make health a socially constructed phenomenon
• follow fundamental principles when screening for the social determinants of health
• list resources for patients in the clinical environment and community that are related to the social determinants of health