Course Outline:

Hour 1

• Introduction: The Emergence of COVID-19.
• COVID-19 Symptoms & severity levels.
• What Happens during an Acute Exacerbation?
• Functional Effects of Respiratory Disease.
• How Coronavirus attacks the body.
• The Gateway To Enter The Body.
• Beyond Cell Infection: The Inflammatory Response.
• The Creation of a Cytokine Storm.
• Adverse Effects to Organs & Systems.
• Disruptions in the Nervous System.
• Potential Long Term Consequences of COVID-19.

Hour 2

• Interprofessional Assessment.
• Assess Clinical Symptoms/Physical Conditions.
• Specific Problems to Investigate.
• Assessment factors.
• Monitor Cardiorespiratory Capacity.
• Standardized Physical Assessments & Pain scales.
• Cognitive Assessments.
• Swallowing, Communication/Language Assessments.
• The Goals of Long‐Term Treatments & Strategies.
• The Multidisciplinary Approach to a Pulmonary Program.
• Supine and Prone Positioning.

Hour 3

• Vital Signs.
• Key Vital Signs for Respiratory Disease.
• Use Good Clinical Judgement.
• Taking Blood Pressure.
• Pulse, Pulse Oximetry and Borg Rating Scale.
• When to Stop Treatment.
• Pharmaceutical Approaches.
• Antivirals & Immune Modulators.
• Hydroxychloroquine.
• Protease inhibitors (PIs).
• Interferon beta 1a.
• Medications not proven effective in hospitalized patients.
• Medications in the Post-Acute Stage.
• Drug to Drug Interactions (DDIs).

Hour 4

• Interprofessional.
• Treatments.
• Nursing Interventions.
• Physical Therapy Intervention.
• Respiratory Therapy Intervention.
• Example of COVID-19 Breathing Exercises (video).
• Exercise Training.
• Occupational Therapy & Intervention Planning.
• Speech Therapy Variables for Dysphagia from COVID-19.
• Assisted Cough Techniques.
• Using Oxygen Therapy.
• Client & Caregiver Education.
• Coping Techniques.
• Energy Conservation.
• Caregiver Education to Support Transition Home.

Hour 5

• Persistent Symptoms/Deficits following COVID.
• Persistent Symptoms.
• Systemic Effects on Body and Organs.
• Documentation Notes.
• Documentation to Support our Services /medical Necessity.
• Documenting Skilled Services.
• Documenting Overall Progress.
• Documenting the Need for Continued Skilled Treatment.
• Documenting Slow Progression.
• Medicare Documentation Do's and Don'ts.
• Sample PT Goals.
• Sample OT Goals.
• Sample SLP Goals.
• Example PT Skilled Daily Note.
• Example OT Skilled Daily Note.
• Example SLP Skilled Daily Note.