COVID-19 Profession-Specific Online Resources and Education

Over the last few weeks, I have seen first-hand the vital role HSCP are playing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• HSCP are carrying out diagnostics and disease monitoring
• HSCP are delivering specialist treatment and rehabilitation
• HSCP are providing psychosocial and practical supports to patients and their families

HSCP services are needed at each stage throughout the patient journey and as such, it is incumbent on us to ensure we have the necessary information and resources to undertake our roles. 

In my last Blog (on April 5^th), I focused on general resources available to HSCP in the context of the  COVID-19 pandemic.  Today, I am sharing more resources, relevant to specific professions* within the HSCP group.  

Unfortunately, it is not possible to represent all 26 HSCP disciplines in one blog post. Therefore, I have included a sample of professions from the therapy, diagnostics and social care domains of the HSCP group.  If your profession isn’t included and you would like to share resources, please do so in the comment box below. We would be delighted to hear from you.

Clinical Measurement Physiology

The IICMS has created a COVID 19 information hub to support members.  It contains links to resources and webinars such as Preparedness for Echo Labs: Insights from the Frontlines, Guidance for Neurophysiologists performing EEGs and Guidelines for GI Physiology investigations during Covid19. 

The Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology also has a collection of guidelines and resources while the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has guidance for sleep labs and clinics.

The European Heart Journal recently published recommendations for cardiac imaging during the COVID-19 pandemic which may also be of interest.

Dietetics

INDI has provided learning resources on COVID-19 to assist dietitians being redeployed to hospital wards and ICU clinical roles.  These resources are accessible to members and non-members of INDI (via the guest login).  The INDI website also has a range of resources on healthy eating for all ages, from older adults cocooning at home to young children and families. These are for the public, carers and health professionals.

Abbott Nutrition has shared a webinar, recorded in 2018 with Irish ICU dietitians entitled ICU Nutrition Made Simple.  A range of pertinent questions are addressed including: the nutritional requirements through the different phases of critical illness, the requirements of the obese critically ill, refeeding syndrome in ICU, indications for parenteral versus enteral nutrition and how best to monitor to monitor patients with complex needs.  

Clinical Dietetics online provides a course on Mastering the Nutrition Care Process which can be accessed via the free 1-month trial (membership is $5.99 per month thereafter).  Registration with this site also includes updates, blogs and discussion fora, accessible via the dedicated app.

Medical Science

The ACSLM  provides links to information and guidelines for their members as well as highlighting relevant podcasts and other resources. See https://acslm.ie/?p=3756 for details.

The Royal College of Pathologists also has a COVID-19 resource hub, while the HSPC and HSE have issued guidance for specimen handling for laboratories.

Occupational Therapy

The AOTI has collated a number of resources to assist OTs.  These include links to online talks and resources for managing stress and wellbeing as well as general lectures on COVID-19. 

For OTs considering telehealth, there are links to relevant guidelines and a webinar.  OTs in the acute sector may find the webinar on skin integrity and pressure care useful.  Both webinars are free to AOTI members (€10 for non-members).

WFOT has developed a repository of COVID-19 resources from member organisations and have made the online module on Disaster Management for OTs free for a limited time.  WFOT’s online forum also allows OTs around the world to discuss practice and share resources.

Lorrae Mynard and OT Australia have a guide for managing disruption to daily life caused by COVID-19.

Physiotherapy

The ISCP and WCPT provide general information and resources on COVID-19.

For physios in acute care, I recommend the ACPRC as a go-to website.  Another good resource is the UCC Covid-19 Resource centre, which includes a 3-hour video lecture (a Modified Basic ICU Course).  The Australian Physiotherapy Association has provided a free online course: Virtual Cardiorespiratory ICU Update while the ISCP has an e-learning module on Pressure Care which is free to members.

The Intensive Care Society (ICS) and British Thoracic Society have valuable guidance documents, in particular, the ICS document on prone positioning.  Guidelines on ‘Physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting’ (pre-press) are available from the Journal of Physiotherapy.

For physios in other specialities who wish to refresh their respiratory skills, the CSP have free e-learning modules for respiratory oncall.  Physio Matters has a podcast on COVID-19 for musculoskeletal physiotherapists, while the Breathe Easy Podcast on ‘The Physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting’ is a worthwhile listen.

The newly released Oncall Buddy app, developed by Consultant Respiratory Physiotherapist Stephanie Marshall and Physiotherapist Iain Loughran is another great free resource for those working in respiratory.

Finally, Physiopedia offer a free Coronavirus Disease Programme on their trial account. However, caution must be exercised due to variances in terminology and policies between the UK, US and Ireland.

Psychology

The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) has created a Covid-19 resource page for Psychologists, healthcare workers and members of the general public.  They also have guidance on the use of online therapy and telephone therapy for practitioners transitioning to telehealth.

The American Psychological Association (APA) has a COVID-19 resource centre with general resources, student resources and resources for practitioners and healthcare professionals.  The APA’s podcast, ‘Speaking of Psychology’, also has a special episode on Coronavirus Anxiety.  

The British Psychological Society publication, The Psychologist, has developed a dedicated page for collecting and linking psychological perspectives on the Coronavirus.

Radiography and Radiation Therapy

The IIRRT has provided information and direction to members regarding COVID-19.  Similarly, the Society of Radiographers in the UK has collated resources for radiographers. They have flagged e-learning resources provided by Health Education England, including the free to access Coronavirus Disease Programme.  

The Royal College of Radiologists has resources for managing both clinical radiology and radiotherapy services during the coronavirus pandemic.

The American College of Radiology has published guidance for radiology departments to support adaption of work flow practices, particularly in relation to infection control.

Other educational opportunities are available on Radiopeadia and on MRI Online, the latter providing a free course on COVID-19.   This course demonstrates the typical CT scan findings of COVID-19 pneumonia and how the findings progress over the course of the disease.

Social Work

The IASW has developed a COVID-19 Resources section on https://iasw.ie/covid-19 which is regularly updated with new and emerging information and supports for social workers. A guidance document for the medical social work profession response to COVID-19 has also been developed to support social work which plays a pivotal role in bereavement work with patient, family and staff support.

Supports available on www.iasw.ie include links to resources for working with adults with learning disabilities, working online and home visits. Further resources can be found on the BASW site and at the UCC School of Applied Social Studies padlet.

Further resources can be found on the BASW site and at the UCC School of Applied Social Studies padlet.

Speech and Language Therapy

IASLT has produced a guidance document on COVID-19, as has the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, London. The latter also provides links to relevant resources for SLTs navigating the changing working environment brought about by the pandemic. 

The Irish Head and Neck Society has put forward Considerations for clinicians dealing with head and neck cancer during the COVID19 outbreak.

* Please be aware that information and guidelines in this area are changing rapidly.  Although these resources are up to date at the time of writing this blog, they may be superseded by new guidance in the coming days and weeks.

This Blog was written by Éadaoin O’Hanlon on behalf of the eHealth HSCP Advisory Group.