What is our ethical responsibility to provide PT, OT, and SLP during the COVID-19 pandemic?

As therapists, we of course want to help our patients and keep them safe. Our patients vary in the degree to which they require immediate therapeutic intervention, and as therapists we need to find a balance between providing necessary services and avoiding unnecessary risk of exposure. Going forward, it is important to consider a patient’s need for therapy versus your known proximity to potential infection. At this time, we are making case-by-case decisions with each therapist and their patients/caregivers as to whether or not a patient should be placed on hold or continue treatment. In the instance that a patient is placed on hold or is not receiving care, a good practice would be to perform weekly “check-ins” with your clients by phone so that we can respond to the patient’s evolving needs.

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