The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has drastically changed health care practice around the world. Many medical speech language pathologists are uncertain about how and whether to continue managing patients with swallowing impairments (dysphagia), and if so... whom? In this episode of Down the Hatch, special guests with expertise in swallowing research and clinical practice discuss questions that center around whether SLPs are essential practitioners at this critical time. Links to sources referenced can be found here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25129577/ https://insights.ovid.com/clinical-pulmonary-medicine/cpulm/2018/09/000/aspiration-asp-sh-noun-ambiguous-term-used/4/00045413 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9513300/ https://www.entnet.org/sites/default/files/uploads/covid-19_endosb_lettertoeditor_neurosurgery_update3.23.20.pdf https://www.entnet.org/content/academy-supports-cms-offers-specific-nasal-policy?fbclid=IwAR2T5mtY9cmBZHzrlC5pksT5yf2SzVyKFNjsOI-ErslyndZzV8qAPsb8XbI https://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/2763329/covid-19-risk-health-care-workers-case-report https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2020/03/05/uc-davis-self-quarantine-test-negative/ https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/keeping-the-coronavirus-from-infecting-health-care-workers https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25807865 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1459179/ CMS recommendations: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/31820-cms-adult-elective-surgery-and-procedures-recommendations.pdf AAOHNS's statement as of 3/26: https://www.entnet.org/content/academy-supports-cms-offers-specific-nasal-policy?fbclid=IwAR1LGbGXaj66oBmwlEwuehHkYIF7odgm4GdhVRnvzBWr3IKWSGq50ngQ8qc CDC on minimization of transmission within different settings: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/guidance-hcf.html Ventilation and PPE usage with aerosol transmission: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Factors+involved+in+the+aerosol+transmission+of+infection+and+control+of+ventilation+in+healthcare+premises High-risk patient factors for severe illness from COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-higher-risk.html https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/CISA-Guidance-on-Essential-Critical-Infrastructure-Workers-1-20-508c.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1nrXpoPEIg40jdn4UH-k_TTeZK8-SAP4SyDtWc85xnicLOTjz1tN6O-4E