Episode 57: COVID Convo with Rinki Varindani Desai, M.S.,CCC-SLP, CBIS, CDP
I am delighted to have Rinki Varindani Desai as my first guest for the new COVID Conversations series. In response to the significant impact this public health crisis is having on our work, our lives, and our healthcare system, I’ve teamed up with my fellow SLPs to share insights into how the pandemic has changed their practice and what they’re doing to adapt. Today’s episode highlights the impact of COVID-19 on our outpatient setting.
topics covered:
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on outpatient services
Current state of insurance reimbursement for SLPs providing services via telepractice (as of 4/5/2020)
Preparation to transition to telehealth services by creating a workflow and determining appropriate patients from current caseload.
Resources Rinki and her team have utilized to prepare for delivering dysphagia therapy via telepractice.
Unexpected benefits of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Rinki’s practice and work place.
Rinki’s advice for other outpatient therapists.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
FREE recorded webinar to help guide Dysphagia Service Delivery during COVID-19 (released 4/9/2020)
The webinar, sponsored by ASHA SIG 13, has been posted on the COVID-19 SLP Healthcare Service Delivery Page: https://www.asha.org/SLP/healthcare/SLP-Service-Delivery-Considerations-in-Health-Care-During-Coronavirus
Speech-language pathologists in health care face unique challenges related to clinical decision-making and service delivery for individuals with dysphagia during COVID-19. A panel of swallowing experts and representatives from ASHA SIG 13 (Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders), ASHA SIG 15 (Gerontology), the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (ABSSD), and the Dysphagia Research Society (DRS), who represent a variety of healthcare settings, including acute care, skilled nursing/long-term care, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient responded to member questions about dysphagia services in the recorded web chat.
ASHA COVID-19 Updates: “ASHA’s priority is the safety and well-being of ASHA members, volunteers, and staff. We continue to closely monitor evolving information about the coronavirus/COVID-19.”
Medical SLP Forum (excellent Facebook group to join, admin’d by Rinki)
STEP - Swallow Training and Education Portal: Welcome to the STEP COMMUNITY. Our mission is to make evidence-based dysphagia education and training affordable and accessible to all. The learning modules below feature 50+ hours of video, audio and text-based swallowing courses and resources; from basics to the most advanced. If you are an instructor teaching an undergraduate or graduate SLP program or course related to dysphagia anywhere in the world, email stepcommunityteam@gmail.com for a free instructor account to use STEP as a resource in your class.
SLP Service Delivery Considerations in Health Care during COVID-19
ASHA’s Telepractice Resources during COVID-19
ASHA guidance regarding Aerosol Generating Procedures
ASHA SIG 13 COVID-19 Resources
Speech Pathology Australia has a ton of amazing resources for telepractice! Including free courses on teletherapy.
Thank you, Rinki, for these great links!!
The story Leigh Ann told about the 2 guys walking down the street, playing a tuba and a trombone
Rinki Varindani Desai is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist, certified brain injury specialist and certified dementia practitioner; specializing in the assessment and treatment of cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders in adults. She is the founder of the Medical SLP Forum, co-creator of the Dysphagia Therapy mobile app, and co-founder of the Swallowing Training and Education Portal learning platform for dysphagia clinicians. Rinki currently serves as Associate Coordinator of ASHA’s Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders Special Interest Group (SIG 13) and as Co-Chair of the Dysphagia Research Society's Website, Communications and Public Relations Committee. A recipient of seven ASHA ACE awards, Rinki was one among 30 clinicians in the US selected for ASHA’s Leadership Development Program and more recently for ASHA’s Faculty Development Institute. Originally an SLP from Mumbai, India; she has practiced for 9 years in acute care, sub-acute and long-term care medical settings. Rinki currently practices as the outpatient lead and clinical instructor in the Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She has presented nationally and internationally on topics related to adult dysphagia. She enjoys reading, writing, teaching, traveling with her husband around the world, and doing what she can to help advance the profession by paying it forward. You can follow her on Facebook or reach out to her via Twitter.
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