Infection prevention and control: Guideline for speech pathologists, Version 1,2020.

3.0 Origins of the Guideline

Infection prevention and control measures are central to speech pathologists providing high quality service provision to all clients, as well as facilitating a safe working environment for all practitioners. The development of the profession-relevant guideline arose from the need for Speech Pathology Australia members to have access to appropriate and profession-specific infection prevention and control information. The Speech Pathology Australia Infection Prevention and Control Guideline for Speech Pathologists aligns with ‘ Aspiration 8 - Quality services: Innovation and continual pursuit of knowledge’ of the Speech Pathology 2030 – Making Futures Happen 7 report and broadly links to pillar three, ‘ Our workforce: Speech pathologists are equipped for quality practice that meets community need’ of the Speech Pathology Australia Strategic Plan 2020-2022 . 8 The practice settings considered in compiling this guideline include acute and rehabilitation hospital settings, aged care, community, early childhood education, schools, disability, justice, home setting and private practice. 3.1 Rationale Infection prevention and control is each individual’s responsibility. Healthcare providers have a legal obligation to eliminate risks and provide a healthy and safe work environment for individuals, clients and others as reasonably feasible. 9-12 Appropriate systems and reporting structures (governance) need to be in place to minimise risks to clients and health practitioners, monitor service provision and improve the quality of clinical care. Health practitioners need to be accountable for their professional practice in the implementation of an infection prevention and control guideline. 9,10,12 The guideline has been designed to support individual speech pathologists implement infection prevention and control measures within their professional practice. Speech pathology specific examples have been included throughout the guideline. These examples should be used to form the basis of considering what infection prevention and control measures are required for individual clinical tasks, settings and scenarios.

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Infection Prevention and Control - Guideline for Speech Pathologists | Version 1, 2020