Your health and safety are our top priorities. Below, you will find essential information about the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) measures we follow, in accordance with the guidelines set by the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) and the Ministry of Health (MOH).
What is IPAC? IPAC refers to the practices and procedures used to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings. These measures are crucial in ensuring the safety of both clients and healthcare providers.
Key IPAC Measures
Screening and Assessment:
Pre-Appointment Screening: All clients are required to complete a pre-appointment screening questionnaire to assess for symptoms of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
On-Site Screening: Upon arrival, clients and accompanying individuals will undergo a brief health assessment, including temperature checks.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
Staff PPE: Our staff are equipped with appropriate PPE, including masks, gloves, face shields, and gowns, as necessary.
Client PPE: Clients are encouraged to wear masks during sessions, unless contraindicated for therapeutic reasons.
Hand Hygiene:
Hand Sanitizers: Hand sanitizing stations are available at multiple locations within our facility. Clients are required to sanitize their hands upon entry and exit.
Hand Washing: Staff follow strict hand hygiene protocols, washing hands thoroughly before and after each session.
Cleaning and Disinfection:
High-Touch Surfaces: Frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles, light switches, and therapy equipment, are cleaned and disinfected regularly throughout the day.
Therapy Rooms: Therapy rooms are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between each client session to ensure a safe environment.
Physical Distancing:
Waiting Areas: We have reconfigured our waiting areas to ensure physical distancing. Seating is arranged to maintain a safe distance between individuals.
Session Scheduling: Appointments are scheduled to minimize overlap between clients, reducing the number of people in the facility at any given time.
Ventilation:
Air Quality: We ensure adequate ventilation in all therapy rooms and common areas. Air purifiers with HEPA filters are used to improve air quality and reduce airborne contaminants.
Training and Compliance:
Staff Training: All staff receive regular training on the latest IPAC guidelines and protocols. We ensure that everyone is up-to-date with the current standards.
Compliance Monitoring: We regularly monitor and review our IPAC practices to ensure compliance with CASLPO and MOH guidelines.
Your Role in IPAC
Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with the latest public health guidelines and follow any recommendations provided.
Communicate: Inform us if you or anyone in your household is experiencing symptoms of an infectious disease or has been exposed to someone with an infectious disease.
Follow Instructions: Adhere to the IPAC measures we have in place, including wearing masks, practicing hand hygiene, and maintaining physical distance.
Contact Us If you have any questions or concerns about our IPAC measures, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for your therapy sessions.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Together, we can ensure a safe and effective therapy experience.
Please note that we implement an illness policy. If the client, caregivers, or any household members present with new infection or respiratory symptoms (e.g., fever, coughing, running nose) or any other airborne diseases, in-person services will be cancelled or paused until acute symptoms are cleared. If any of the prevention measures are not followed, the speech-language pathologist has the right to cancel in-person visits immediately at full charge.
Out service provider may wear a mask or clear mask unless this is still too much obstruction to what the child needs to see. In this case, the SLP may briefly remove their mask. I understand that the service provider will be following the infection prevention measures as recommended by College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) and the Ministry of Health (MOH)